0 >The super-ministry building in Tallinn, home of the finance ministry and several others. Source: Siim Lõvi /ERR
The Ministry of Justice has received input from various institutions and organizations on increasing the age of consent in Estonia from the current 14, to 16, as is the case in many European countries. Additionally, some organizations and interest groups also support a maximum age gap of three years, others call for five, while the Prosecutor s Office supports a 10-year age difference, between two partners.
The recommendations follow several high-profile sex abuse cases involving minors under the law (i.e. younger than 18) who are or were at the time of the offenses 14 or over, i.e. above the age of consent, as opposed to cases of outright pedophilia, in a legal sense.
The government decided on Thursday that 9th and 12th grade students will go on distance learning for at least a week from Monday. Primary classes and students with special educational needs will have contact classes, however.
The government s decision will take general education schools, vocational schools and universities to distance learning until the end of March. Graduating classes - 9th and 12th grades - will also join them on distance learning for at least next week. Contact classes are only allowed for primary classes, meaning 1st to 4th grades, and for students with special educational needs.
Special educational services, consultations, practical learning, tests, exams and olympiads are allowed if students comply with safety requirements and go to school in small groups.