President Karis: Learning is hard work, but effort doesn't rule out joy

Estonian President Alar Karis, in his address marking the start of the new school year, said that learning always requires effort, but that this does not mean it cannot bring joy. He noted that the joy of learning matters for everyone — kindergarteners, vocational school students, teachers, parents, and even those long past their school years who still wish to learn something new.

Karis pointed out that joy is often lacking precisely in schools, since during difficult but necessary changes, the joy of learning and teaching can easily be pushed aside. Without deliberately nurturing it, he said, everyday routine gradually wears it down. According to the president, learning brings clarity of thought and helps people understand connections, especially when it leads to greater self-understanding.

The value of interest-based education

Karis said that deep immersion in an area of personal interest — whether robotics, playing a musical instrument, or studying bird life — helps young people discover their strengths, which is why interest-based education matters. He stressed that joy cannot be forced upon someone; it arises when a person understands the purpose of learning and sees progress and results. He added that satisfaction is small when a task is easy — the real reward comes from solving a difficult problem through effort, trial and error, even one that initially seemed impossible.

The role of parents and teachers

The president encouraged parents to follow the advice of teacher Pille Granovski: ask children less often about their grades, and more often about what was interesting or went well that day. A student should feel that not every test or exam determines their future, and that they are believed in even when things do not go smoothly at first. Karis added that teachers, too, need support, time, and peace of mind, since it is hard to preserve the joy of teaching when energy is consumed by everything surrounding the learning process.