Estonia shares digital education tools for distance teaching and learning
20 March 2020
The COVID 19 outbreak is a public health crisis quite different than anything Europe has faced for many years. As education personnel and their trade unions grapple with the outbreak, we are supporting and informing member organisations in any way we can.
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Estonian ETUCE member organisation EEPU has informed us that all school buildings in Estonia are closed as of 16 March. Teaching and learning have been moved entirely online.
Estonia is known for its use of cutting-edge digital technologies in many domains. Now Estonia is sharing its digital education tools to support other countries’ education systems during the COVID-19 crisis. These online tools are typically co-created between schools, universities, and private companies. Many are suitable for international usage and the companies which own them have agreed to make them available to support other countries in need at this time. These tools could help teachers and education personnel make distance learning more social and keep learners motivated – two key challenges without face-to-face and group interaction.
Online and distance teaching and learning tools like these are a key feature of many responses to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, it is vital that education trade unions are involved in the implementation of any emergency education plans, and that education professionals retain the autonomy to decide which tools they use to deliver quality education for all. Moreover, education – including digital education – is a public good requiring sustained public funding, ownership and investment. Short-term solutions involving private sector actors should not unthinkingly become a long-term strategy.
Check out the Estonian digital teaching tools.
The ETUCE Secretariat sends solidarity to all teachers, academics and other education personnel and their education trade unions as they react to and tackle this unprecedented crisis. We invite ETUCE member organisations to inform the ETUCE Secretariat about the challenges you face, how you are responding, which good practices you have developed and can share with colleagues, as well as your needs for support from the ETUCE family. Contact ETUCE at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..