Guidance in Estonia
Introduction
Career guidance has been practised in Estonia
for over 80 years.
Guidance in Estonia is mainly provided by the public sector within the education
and labour market structures. Provision in the education sector tends to be more
complex and divided across many institutions compared to the labour market
sector. While private career services exist, they tend to provide a different
type of service, related mainly to job mediation and web-based career management
resources.
In education sector, guidance is provided both as part of youth work as
well as part of formal education. The Education Act of the Republic of Estonia
stipulates vocational guidance of children and youth to be the responsibility of
local governments. According to the Youth Work Act, the county governor is
responsible for the organisation of guidance and counselling of young people in
the county by contracting a respective institution or specialist.
In labour market structures largely psychology-based vocational
counselling has been provided in employment offices since mid-1990s. By today,
career guidance and counselling is offered in all local labour market offices
across Estonia.
Page last updated: 16 June 2008