More Estonian children fear going to school, teachers report

An increasing number of children in Estonia are experiencing such intense fear or discomfort about school that they regularly avoid attending — a phenomenon specialists call school refusal. Estonia does not officially track how many children are affected, but parents have contacted the Rajaleidja support network more than 400 times in a single school year about the issue.

One mother from Tartu County described how her oldest child's reluctance to attend school became a serious family problem three years ago. The child often complained of headaches or feeling unwell, which masked difficulties in relationships with classmates and, she believed, with some adults at the school. The family found relief through professional help and a move to a different school with a better-suited approach.

A growing problem

Liina Ansberg, learning support coordinator at Tartu Tamme School, said that while the school used to see roughly one such case every three years, that number has risen to about ten students per year over the past five years. Specialists point to bullying, worsening mental health, rising anxiety in society, and declining willingness among children to put in effort as contributing factors. Ansberg also noted that many children feel pressure to be perfect at everything, a mindset reinforced by social media.

Jürgen Rakaselg, head of inclusive education at the Ministry of Education, said loss of motivation is often linked to mood disorders, with children finding little seems meaningful and avoiding effort as a result.

Schools lack solutions

Tartu's Peetri School offers home-based education for children whose families have exhausted other options; it currently has 166 students enrolled and a waiting list. Irja Toots, who heads the program, said about a third of newly enrolled students arrive in a critical state. Both Toots and Ansberg said many schools lack the specialists and space needed for smaller classes, while remote learning remains viewed with caution in Estonia due to negative experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rakaselg noted that practices vary widely between schools operating under identical laws and funding, and urged municipalities to seek shared solutions across schools rather than expecting each school to solve the problem alone. He added that money cannot fix everything — fostering a positive atmosphere and kindness among students costs nothing but can make a real difference.