Russian-speaking students told a meeting of the Federation of Estonian Student Unions (EUL) on 21 April that their poor command of the Estonian language is in great part due to the low level of teaching Estonian in schools

Russian-speaking students told a meeting of the Federation of Estonian Student Unions (EUL) on 21 April that their poor command of the Estonian language is in great part due to the low level of teaching Estonian in schools. Tartu University student Marianna Drozdova said the level of teaching Estonian at Russian-language high schools is very poor and that "no interest is created in learning Estonian in Russian schools." EUL officials noted that while Russian speakers make up 35 percent of Estonia's population, they account for only 15 percent of students in institutions of higher learning, indicating that Russian-speaking students' access to higher education is insufficient. The EUL promised to present the problems expressed by the Russian-speaking students to the Education and Science Ministry.