Next year, Pelgulinna State Gymnasium will have a 19-day Christmas break. In other schools, the break will be 16 days. Schools can decide for themselves how long their break will be.
The school director Indrek Lillemägi said that teachers need more time for collaboration. Therefore, a longer break is necessary. He added that many parents were happy with this change.
Ministry of Education official Ott Oja explained that schools can decide on their breaks themselves. The state only provides recommendations. Schools must follow 175 school days per year and other simple rules.
Oja said that if a school wants a three-week Christmas break, it is allowed. Next year, the Ministry of Education will make new rules regarding breaks.
In Estonia, it is common for the Christmas break to end before Midsummer Day. In Europe, it is often longer. Oja believed that Estonians would not want the school year to end later.
Last year, the Christmas break was not extended. The reason was that schools thought three weeks was too long a break.