In its latest Opinion on Estonia the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) makes a series of recommendations aimed at improving the integration of society as a whole, and ensuring that persons belonging to national minorities can participate effectively in economic, social and political life. (see also the French and Estonian versions of the Opinion)
The Committee urges the authorities to ensure effective and meaningful access to education for persons belonging to the Roma national minority, including through improving and updating teacher training on understanding Romani culture and traditions, reviewing the potential discriminatory effect of the so-called “simplified programmes”, and consulting with Roma on the design, implementation and review of any future model to support Roma students in education.
Moreover, while recognising that Estonia continues to support national minorities, the Opinion stresses the need to address divides in the education system between Estonian and Russian language teaching, in the media space, and as regards the perception among some parts of the Russian minority of the promotion of the state language.
The authorities should also ensure access to Russian as a language of instruction at all levels of the public education system and intensify the dialogue with representatives of the Russian minority. They should look into the causes of any educational disparities in academic performance from students in Estonian-language and Russian-language schools, assess and improve the quality of education with Russian as the language of instruction, and remedy any problems identified.
The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is Europe’s most comprehensive treaty protecting the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. It is the first legally binding multilateral instrument devoted to the protection of national minorities worldwide, and its implementation is monitored by an Advisory Committee composed of independent experts. The treaty entered into force on 1 February 1998 and is now in force in 39 states.
Estonia should intensify efforts to integrate national minorities