Estonia to spend 110,000 euros to prevent xenophobia in education

TALLINN - The Estonian government is set to earmark 110,000 euros from its contingency reserve for the prevention of xenophobia in schools and kindergartens.

Under a draft regulation filed by the Finance Ministry, the government would grant 227,804 euros to the Ministry of Education and Research to cover the costs related to the European Union action plan on migration. Nearly half of that money, 110,000 euros, will be spent on the prevention of xenophobia by means of arranging mobile counseling groups in educational establishments, publishing two methodology guides for teachers, and launching a campaign entitled "No hate speech."

17,700 euros are to be spent on



student-based support in the second half of this year, including 10,200 euros as startup aid for pupils who have arrived to Estonia under the EU migrant plan; 4,000 euros as a one-off language teaching subsidy to Descartes School in Tartu, Laagna and Kuristiku high schools of Tallinn, and the Haapsalu Basic School; and 3,500 euros as payouts toward the costs of teaching the Estonian language to seven children attending a kindergarten.

The draft order also lists 50,052 euros for teaching the Estonian language to illiterate adults, preparing related methodology guides and study materials, and another 50,052 euros for increasing competencies at educational institutions for the evaluation of readiness for study.