Estonia's winter school holiday to end on January 2 from 2027/2028

The Estonian Ministry of Education plans to shorten the winter school break for the 2027/2028 academic year, with the holiday starting on December 20 and ending as early as January 2. The ministry argues that a three-week break makes it too difficult for children to readjust to school life.

Estonia's Ministry of Education has announced plans to significantly shorten the winter school holiday starting from the 2027/2028 academic year. Under the new schedule, the winter break would begin on December 20 and conclude on January 2 — a notably shorter period compared to current arrangements.

The ministry's reasoning centres on concerns about children's ability to readjust after an extended holiday. According to the ministry, a three-week winter break takes too long for pupils to settle back into the rhythm of school life, affecting their learning progress at the start of the new year.

The change would affect hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren and their families across Estonia, who would need to adjust their holiday plans accordingly. Parents and educators are likely to weigh in on the proposal as it moves closer to implementation, with some welcoming the academic rationale and others raising concerns about family scheduling during the festive season.