koolutust

Koolutust is an Estonian noun that denotes the act or process of education and instruction. It encompasses formal schooling as well as organized training and learning activities designed to develop knowledge, skills, and competences in individuals. The word is formed from kool- meaning school and the derivational suffix -utus, which creates abstract nouns that express a process or result.

In contemporary usage, koolutust appears mainly in educational and policy contexts. It can appear in phrases such as koolutusteenus (education or training service), koolutustegevus (educational activity), or discussions about the provision and quality of education. In many contexts, it overlaps with or is used alongside related terms such as haridus, which Covers education in a broader lifelong sense, and koolitus, which refers more specifically to targeted training or instruction for particular skills.

The concept of koolutust reflects the emphasis on developing competences through structured learning, whether in schools, vocational settings, or community programs. It is a standard term in modern Estonian, used in official documents, academic writing, and public discourse to reference the broader enterprise of imparting knowledge and facilitating learning.

See also: haridus; koolitus; Eesti haridussüsteem; elukestev õpe.