Kohtla-Järve plans to abolish kindergarten fees

The Centre Party-led local government in Kohtla-Järve has decided to follow through on its election promise and eliminate kindergarten participation fees. The move would make early childhood education free for families in the Ida-Virumaa city.

The Centre Party-controlled municipal government of Kohtla-Järve, a city in Estonia's Ida-Virumaa region, is planning to abolish kindergarten participation fees, making good on a promise made during the local election campaign.

The decision reflects a broader trend among Centre Party-led municipalities to reduce the financial burden on families with young children. Kohtla-Järve is one of Estonia's larger regional cities and home to a significant Russian-speaking population.

If implemented, the measure would mean that parents in Kohtla-Järve would no longer need to pay the monthly fee currently required for their children to attend a municipal kindergarten. The move is expected to benefit hundreds of local families.