The Tartu Administrative Court found that the Toila municipality acted correctly. They did not satisfy the parents' complaint. An appeal can be filed against the court's decision within 30 days.
The Toila council decided in the spring to close the upper secondary school section. They cited the decreasing number of children. The state supports the construction of a new school building. 25 parents contested the decision in court. They argued that the decision was made with insufficient community involvement.
The court found no errors in the decision. The mayor of the municipality, Eve East, was satisfied with the decision. She mentioned that the youth would get a new and modern school. The parents argued that the last Estonian-language upper secondary school in Ida-Viru County would be lost.
The court pointed out that state gymnasiums ensure Estonian-language education. According to the judge, the complainants have the opportunity to obtain upper secondary education in other schools. The parents were saddened by the court's decision but acknowledged some victories.
The Toila municipality has started the process of closing the upper secondary school section. In 2026, the school will start operating as a primary school. Currently, 238 students attend the upper secondary school. 37 of them are studying in the upper secondary section.
The Union of Estonian Architects organized an architectural competition for the school building. The winning work was titled 'Kooliveer'. The new school building will be completed in 2027. Its cost is 7.7 million euros.