Cooperation activities

To achieve the objectives of the activity “Promoting evidence-based quality management in general education that supports learner development”, HAKA has gathered international experience (Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand) and engaged with the developers of similar self-evaluation–based assessment models in Estonia (Green School, Entrepreneurial School, Good School, DigiMirror). In addition, existing experience and practices of internal evaluation in general education have been analysed; the model has been discussed with school leaders and school owners at five quality assessment workshops held across Estonia; and seminars have been organised in cooperation with major representative organisations in the field of general education as well as with various departments of the Ministry of Education and Research.

General Education Advisory Council

At the end of 2022, a General Education Advisory Council composed of key partners was established, with the role of supporting HAKA in promoting evidence-based quality management that supports learner development in general education.

The Council includes members and alternate members nominated by the following stakeholder organisations:

  • Ministry of Education and Research

  • Estonian Employers’ Confederation

  • Tallinn University

  • University of Tartu

  • Estonian Association of School Leaders

  • Estonian Teachers’ Union

  • Cooperation Chamber of Teachers’ Associations

  • Estonian Education Employees’ Union

  • Estonian School Student Councils’ Union

  • Estonian Parents’ Union

  • Estonian Association of Special Education Teachers

  • Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities

  • Estonian School Psychologists’ Association

General Education Working Group

At the beginning of 2023, with the approval of the Council, a working group on general education quality criteria and the quality assessment model was established. The expert working group, composed of practitioners and researchers, had the important task of developing an evidence-based quality assessment model that supports the activities of general education schools.

Quality Criteria model 2025

Under two assessment areas – Learning and Teaching that Supports Learner Development and Collaborative and Development-Oriented School Culture – there are a total of six quality criteria.

Learning and Teaching that Supports Learner Development

1.Curriculum development is inclusive, systematic, and evidence-based.

2. Learning and teaching processes take into account the individual characteristics of each learner and support their holistic development.

3. Monitoring and assessment of learner development support the achievement of planned learning outcomes.

Collaborative and Development-Oriented School Culture

4. School leadership is value-driven, collaborative, and development-oriented.

5. The school ensures the mental, social, and physical well-being of students, teachers, and other staff.

6. The school values and ensures the professional development of teachers and other staff.

General Education Quality Workshops

In September 2023, we involved all general education stakeholder groups in discussions on the model and criteria through General Education Quality Workshops, with the aim of jointly seeking answers to the following questions: What constitutes quality in general education and how do we measure it? How can we support those educational institutions that, based on evidence-based assessment, require external assistance? How can a digital dashboard support schools in the evidence-based monitoring of their activities and in self-evaluation?

School leaders, members of school management teams, and school owners from general education institutions were invited to participate in the workshops. In total, 260 participants took part in the workshops held in Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Pärnu, and Saku. Participants were provided with an overview of the progress made in developing the quality assessment model in cooperation with field experts.

The workshops then continued, in line with their format, with discussions both in plenary and in smaller group sessions. Five themes were proposed for discussion to the participants of the quality workshops: assessment areas and criteria; the impact of self-analysis on school development; the roles and responsibilities of school owners and school leaders; support for improvement activities or accreditation of educational institutions; and the impact of quality assessment on curriculum development and the school development plan.