Minister of Education and Research (Estonia) facts for kids
The Minister of Education and Research is a very important person in the Estonian Government. This minister leads the Ministry of Education and Research in Estonia. Their main job is to manage and improve Estonia's education system. They also oversee and fund all the research and development happening in the country.
The Prime Minister chooses the Minister of Education and Research as part of the government team. The person holding this job right now is Tõnis Lukas. He started this role on July 18, 2022.
Many people help the Minister with their work. These include the Deputy Minister, the Secretary General, and other secretaries who focus on different areas like general education, higher education, youth affairs, and international relations.
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History of the Education Minister Role
The job of Minister of Education was first created when Estonia became an independent country on February 24, 1918. For a while, from 1928 to 1936, the title was "Minister of Education and Social Affairs."
When Estonia lost its independence on June 21, 1940, the independent management of education also ended. The Ministry of Education continued to exist, but it followed orders from Moscow. In 1988, it was combined with the Educational Committee.
The Ministry of Education was brought back in 1989. When Estonia became independent again on August 20, 1991, the Ministry regained full control over education. In 1993, the ministries of culture and education joined together. But by 1996, they separated again, and the Ministry of Education was re-established on its own.
In 2001, the Ministry moved its main office to Tartu. This move happened for economic and regional reasons, and also because the University of Tartu worked hard to make it happen.
On January 1, 2003, the Ministry of Education changed its name to the Ministry of Education and Research. This new name better showed that it also focuses on science and new discoveries. The Minister's title has changed over time to match the Ministry's name.
Titles of the Minister
The official title of the minister has changed a few times throughout history:
- 1918-1928: Minister of Education
- 1928-1940: Minister of Education and Social Affairs
- 1940-1989: The position did not exist in an independent Estonia
- 1989-1992: Minister of Education
- 1992-1996: Minister of Culture and Education
- 1996-2003: Minister of Education
- Since 2003: Minister of Education and Research
Who Has Been the Minister?
Many people have held the important role of Minister of Education and Research over the years. Here is a list of the people who have served in this position.
Ministers from 1918 to 1940
| Name | Took office | Left office | Party | |
| 1 | Peeter Põld | 24 February 1918 | 28 November 1918 | Estonian People's Party |
| 2 | Karl Luts | 28 November 1918 | 12 March 1919 | |
| 3 | Harald Laksberg | 12 March 1919 | 9 May 1919 | |
| 4 | Johannes Kartau | 9 May 1919 | 19 November 1919 | |
| 5 | Konstantin Treffner | 19 November 1919 | 2 August 1920 | |
| 6 | Friedrich Sauer | 2 August 1920 | 27 October 1920 | |
| 7 | Jüri Annusson | 27 October 1920 | 27 January 1921 | |
| 8 | Heinrich Bauer | 27 January 1921 | 22 November 1922 | |
| 9 | Aleksander Veiderman | 22 November 1922 | 20 February 1924 | |
| 10 | Rudolf Georg Gabrel (acting) | 20 February 1924 | 27 March 1924 | |
| 11 | Hugo Bernhard Rahamägi | 27 March 1924 | 17 December 1925 | |
| 12 | Jaan Lattik | 17 December 1925 | 10 December 1927 | |
| 13 | Alfred Julius Mõttus | 10 December 1927 | 5 December 1928 | |
| 14 | Leopold Johannes Johanson | 5 December 1928 | 10 June 1929 | |
| 15 | Jaan Hünerson | 10 June 1929 | 12 February 1931 | |
| 16 | Jaan Piiskar | 12 February 1931 | 20 February 1932 | |
| 17 | Jaan Hünerson (2nd time) | 20 February 1932 | 3 October 1932 | |
| 18 | Hugo Kukke | 3 October 1932 | 18 May 1933 | |
| 19 | Konstantin Konik | 18 May 1933 | 21 October 1933 | |
| 20 | Nikolai Kann | 21 October 1933 | 11 May 1936 | |
| 21 | Aleksander Jaakson | 11 May 1936 | 12 October 1939 | |
| 22 | Paul Kogerman | 12 October 1939 | 21 June 1940 |
Ministers from 1989 to Present
| Name | Took office | Left office | Party | ||
| 23 | Rein Loik | 28 December 1989 | 21 October 1992 | (none) | |
| 24 | Paul-Eerik Rummo | 22 October 1992 | 21 June 1994 | (none) | |
| 25 | Peeter Olesk | 21 June 1994 | 17 April 1995 | Estonian National Independence Party | |
| 26 | Peeter Kreitzberg | 17 April 1995 | 6 November 1995 | Estonian Centre Party | |
| 27 | Jaak Aaviksoo | 6 November 1995 | 30 November 1996 | Estonian Reform Party | |
| 28 | Rein Loik (2nd time) | 30 November 1996 | 17 March 1997 | (none) | |
| 29 | Mait Klaassen | 17 March 1997 | 25 March 1999 | Estonian Coalition Party | |
| 30 | Tõnis Lukas | 25 March 1999 | 28 January 2002 | Pro Patria Union | |
| 31 | Mailis Rand | 28 January 2002 | 10 April 2003 | Estonian Centre Party | |
| 32 | Toivo Maimets | 10 April 2003 | 13 April 2005 | Union for the Republic - Res Publica | |
| 33 | Mailis Reps (= Mailis Rand, 2nd time) | 13 April 2005 | 5 April 2007 | Estonian Centre Party | |
| 34 | Tõnis Lukas (2nd time) | 5 April 2007 | 5 April 2011 | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica | |
| 35 | Jaak Aaviksoo (2nd time) | 6 April 2011 | 26 March 2014 | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica | |
| 35 | Jevgeni Ossinovski | 26 March 2014 | 9 April 2015 | Social Democratic Party | |
| 35 | Jürgen Ligi | 9 April 2015 | 12 September 2016 | Estonian Reform Party | |
| 36 | Maris Lauri | 12 September 2016 | 23 November 2016 | Estonian Reform Party | |
| 37 | Mailis Reps (= Mailis Rand, 3rd time) | 23 November 2016 | 21 November 2020 | Estonian Centre Party | |
| 38 | Jaak Aab | 25 November 2020 | 26 January 2021 | Estonian Centre Party | |
| 39 | Liina Kersna | 26 January 2021 | 18 July 2022 | Estonian Reform Party | |
| 40 | Tõnis Lukas (3rd time) | 18 July 2022 | Incumbent | Pro Patria |
