Keskharidus

Keskharidus is the Estonian term for secondary education, the level of schooling that follows basic education. It encompasses two main pathways: general upper secondary education (gümnaasium) and vocational upper secondary education. The general path emphasizes academic subjects and prepares students for higher education, while the vocational path combines subject study with workplace-oriented training and leads to a vocational qualification.

Students typically begin keskharidus after completing basic education and progress through a curriculum approved by the Ministry of Education and Science. The curriculum covers core subjects such as languages, mathematics, sciences, social studies, and foreign languages, with opportunities for specialization and elective subjects.

On completion, learners receive a certificate of secondary education (keskharidus). The certificate qualifies graduates for admission to higher education institutions and is widely recognized for entering the labor market or continuing vocational training. In addition, some tracks culminate in more specialized vocational qualifications.

Estonia's keskharidus system is part of the broader European education framework, aligning with the European Qualifications Framework and contributing to mobility within higher education and employment across the EU. The structure has developed since the 1990s, with reforms to emphasize both general and vocational pathways and to improve flexibility for learners.