Education Minister Kristina Kallas says that Estonian vocational education needs more money. This money is necessary for teaching new specialties. Kuressaare Vocational School is taking the first step and will begin teaching the maintenance of wind turbines. This is a new and promising specialty.
Nearly two million euros were used to teach the new specialty. One and a half million euros were obtained from the European Union, and 400,000 euros came from the Estonian state budget. Neeme Rand, the director of Kuressaare Vocational School, says that this is a one-year curriculum. He adds that other educational institutions do not teach this specialty.
Education Minister Kallas says that the role of vocational education is growing. In the coming years, vocational education will need an additional 10 million euros. This money is necessary for teaching new specialties. There is also a need for more young people to choose vocational education.
Kallas says that the new specialty at Kuressaare Vocational School will be important in the future. She emphasizes that there are currently 200 onshore wind turbines in Estonia. All of them require maintenance. In addition, about 200 more turbines will be installed. Their lifespan is 30–40 years.
Starting this autumn, 12 students will practice maintaining wind turbines. They will practice at a height of a few meters. Later, they will have to work at a height of several hundred meters. Rand says that students must submit a health declaration. This shows that they are physically healthy and ready to learn.