Teachers' salaries to increase, research funding to remain at current level

TALLINN - According to the draft state budget for 2026, which has been approved by the government and is set to be sent to the Riigikogu, the salary fund of teachers will increase by 10 percent, research funding will remain at the agreed level, and the transition to Estonian-language education will continue as planned.

Minister of Education Kristina Kallas said that a salary increase is inevitable to retain existing teachers and ensure new talent.

"The minimum salary for teachers will increase by 8.2 percent in the new year, to 1,970 euros, and the differentiation fund will increase by 2 percent," Kallas said. "We will increase the number of doctoral study places from 300 to 350, and state funding for science will remain at the current level, accounting for 0.99 percent of GDP."

Altogether 654 million euros have been earmarked in the 2026 budget for teachers' labor costs. In the following years, the estimated average salary of teachers will increase by 10 percent, with the average monthly salary increasing by 219 euros. The minimum salary for teachers will increase by 8.2 percent to 1,970 euros, and the estimated average salary will be 2,403 euros next year. The state is moving towards the goal that teachers' salaries will constitute 120 percent of the average Estonian salary by 2027.

Research and development expenses will total 439.9 million euros in 2026, including 258 million euros in the budget of the Ministry of Education and Research.

Starting next year, the number of doctoral study places at universities will be increased by 50 places, to 350. The goal is to increase the number of doctoral study places to 500 by 2035 in order to support the development of the economy, public sector, culture and science that create added value. Special attention will be paid to ensuring that there are enough doctoral study places in various disciplines in the field of artificial intelligence. In 2026, a total of 41.9 million euros will be allocated from the science and higher education budget for salary support for doctoral students as junior researchers.

The provision of higher education at universities and institutions of applied higher education will be supported with a total of 323 million euros in 2026. 290.5 million euros have been planned for operating support for higher education, an increase of 28 million euros, or 11 percent, compared to 2025.

The transition to Estonian-language education will continue according to the current action plan, which includes paying higher salaries to education workers in East-Viru County, increasing the number of teacher training places at universities and paying targeted scholarships to students, providing subsidies for additional Estonian language learning and Estonian-language educational materials, providing support to educational institutions through substitute and assistant teacher programs, and more.

From external funds, educators will be supported in the transition to Estonian-language education by offering diverse language learning opportunities, as well as training in methodology, didactics, including integrated subject and language learning training. Learning materials and language technology e-tools in language learning will be developed, and large-scale studies on language learning will be commissioned. 61.5 million euros have been earmarked for educational integration activities, including the implementation of the transition reform to Estonian-language education, in 2026, of which external funds account for 5.5 million euros.

In 2026, preparations for the construction of the Tallinn Tõnismäe State Gymnasium's study building will continue and an architectural competition for the Mustakivi State Gymnasium building will be announced. The reconstruction of the Narva Vanalinna Basic School building will begin. A design contract has been signed for the construction of a new building for the Kohtla-Järve Järve School. The Sillamäe student dormitory and the Jõhvi sports complex of the East-Viru County Vocational Education Center will be reconstructed. Reconstruction work will begin on the Upa building of the Kuressaare Vocational School and the study buildings of the Hiiumaa Education Center.