The Minister of Education and Research is the senior
minister at the
Ministry of Education and Research (''
Estonian
Estonian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe
* Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent
* Estonian language
* Estonian cuisine
* Estonian culture
See also ...
: Eesti Vabariigi Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium'') in the
Estonian Government
, image =
, date = 24 February 1918
, state = Republic of Estonia
, address = Rahukohtu 3, 15161 Tallinn, Estonia
, appointed = President of Estonia
, leader_title = Prime Minister of Estonia
, ...
. The Minister is responsible for administration and development of Estonian educational system as well as for administration and funding of research and development activities on national level.
The Minister of Education and Research is chosen by the
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
as a part of the government. The current Minister of Education and Research is
Tõnis Lukas
Tõnis Lukas (born 5 June 1962) is an Estonian politician, former Minister of Culture from 2019 to 2021 and Minister of Education and Research from 1999 to 2002 and from 2007 to 2011.
Life
Lukas was born in Tallinn, Estonia. After graduating f ...
, who took the position on 18 July 2022.
The Minister is assisted in his/her work by the Deputy Minister, Secretary General, Secretary for General and Vocational Education, Secretary for Higher Education and Research, and Secretary for Youth Affairs and Foreign Relations.
History
Post of the Minister of Education was created at the birth of independent Republic of Estonia on 24 February 1918. From 1928 to 1936 the official title was the Minister of Education and Social Affairs. The end of the Republic of Estonia on 21 June 1940 marked also the end of independent governance of education in Estonia. The Ministry of Education continued from 1940 to 1991 under orders received from Moscow and was merged with the Educational Committee in 1988.
The Ministry of Education was re-established in 1989 to replace the Educational Committee of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic. With the restoration of independent Republic of Estonia on 20 August 1991 the Ministry regained its supreme authority on educational issues. In 1993 the ministries of culture and education were merged to form Ministry of Culture and Education. 1996 the old order was restored and a separate Ministry of Education re-established. 2001 the Ministry was relocated to
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after the Northern European country's political and financial capital, Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 91,407 (as of 2021). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of ...
due to several economic and regional political arguments, but also due to successful lobby by
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu (UT; et, Tartu Ülikool; la, Universitas Tartuensis) is a university in the city of Tartu in Estonia. It is the national university of Estonia. It is the only classical university in the country, and also its biggest ...
.
On 1 January 2003 the Ministry of Education was renamed to Ministry of Education and Research in order to reflect better its focus and areas of administration. The title of the Minister has changed according to the changes in the name of the Ministry.
Titles
* 1918-1928 : Minister of Education
* 1928-1940 : Minister of Education and Social Affairs
* 1940-1989 : ''Inexistant''
* 1989-1992 : Minister of Education
* 1982-1996 : Minister of Culture and Education
* 1996-2003 : Minister of Education
* Since 2003 : Minister of Education and Research
List of Ministers
1918 to 1940
1989 to Present
References
{{Reflist
External links
Ministry of Education and Research official web site
Education and Research
Ministers of Education
*