164 employees leave Estonia's Ida-Viru vocational education centre within a year
In a year, employment ended with 164 staff at Estonia's Ida-Viru Vocational Education Centre, including 104 teachers. Education Minister Kristina Kallas disclosed the figures in reply to a parliamentary query.
At the Ida-Viru Vocational Education Centre in north-eastern Estonia, employment relations ended with 164 staff members over the past year, including 104 teachers of vocational and general subjects. Over the same period the school hired 89 new teachers. Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas (Eesti 200) gave the figures in response to a written query from Riigikogu (Estonian parliament) member Aleksei Yevgrafov (Centre Party).
Between 1 September 2025 and 30 October 2026, the centre hired 32 teachers of vocational subjects and 57 teachers of general subjects. Of the 89 new teachers, 14 do not meet current qualification requirements, and nine of them are now obtaining the necessary qualification. All hired teachers meet the requirement of Estonian language proficiency at level C1. Eight staff members have no pedagogical qualification.
Reasons for departures
The main reason for ending employment was resignation at the employee's own initiative, with 78 such cases. A further 28 contracts expired, two were terminated by mutual agreement, and 27 employees lost their jobs because of staff cuts. In 29 cases the employer ended the relationship on other grounds provided by law.
Falling student numbers and conditions
The staff changes come as student numbers decline: in the 2025/2026 academic year the centre had 2,003 students, while this year it has 1,700 — 303 fewer, or about 15%. The ministry named the reduction of adult-oriented teaching in Russian as the main cause.
The ministry's reply also touched on problems with teaching equipment: a guillotine in the metalworking laboratory was out of order, with a service request filed as early as 10 September. The ministry considers an additional check of equipment, ventilation and the safety of the learning environment necessary. It also stressed that criticism and feedback from students must not affect their grades, learning outcomes or future educational opportunities.
The centre's 2026 budget forecast estimated expenditure at €12.55 million and the expected deficit at about €1.52 million. The founder, the ministry, assessed the school's financial position as satisfactory. In October the centre received €505,671 for the pay of teachers and support specialists in connection with the switch to Estonian-language teaching, and €106,823 for teaching materials and equipment.
Official inspection and director's departure
On 12 November Kallas signed an order for an official inspection at the centre. It begins on 30 November and will cover management decisions, the organisation of studies and the use of state property. The last working day of the outgoing director, Hendrik Agur, who resigned, is 13 November. Until a new head is appointed, duties will be performed by Rein Oselin, head of Järva Vocational College.
In October it emerged that Agur is a suspect in a case of fraud involving abuse of official position. According to the investigation, since August 2025 he submitted false claims to the ministry for compensation of personal car use for trips that did not actually take place. Initially the amount was about €4,500. Agur admitted providing false information, said he had returned the money and stated that he is cooperating with the investigation.
