kooliastmete

Kooliastmed is the term used to describe the main levels or stages of formal education, organizing students as they move through compulsory schooling and beyond. These stages define the scope of the curriculum, typical age ranges, and progression requirements, and they help structure learning experiences so that foundations are built early and increasingly complex skills are developed over time. While the exact naming and number of stages vary by country, the common framework often includes primary or elementary education, lower secondary education, and upper secondary education. Some systems also recognize early childhood or pre-primary stages as preparatory, and tertiary education as a separate level.

In many education systems, kooliastmed are linked to distinct sets of learning goals, assessment practices, and transition points. They provide a basis for planning curricula, allocating resources, and guiding student progression, including remediation or acceleration options when needed. The progression from one stage to the next typically follows a combination of age, grade completion, and achievement standards, with guidance and support services available to students.

In Estonia, kooliastmed are commonly described as algkool, põhikool, and gümnaasium. Algkool covers the early years (roughly grades 1–4), põhikool encompasses the middle years (grades 5–9), and gümnaasium covers upper secondary education (grades 10–12). This structure reflects a three-tier framework designed to maintain continuity while allowing for increasing specialization and broader subject study as students advance.