Geography Olympiads in Estonia

The Olympiads in Estonia The Olympiad movement has a long history in Estonia, and the national system developed several decades ago. The first Olympiad for gifted and talented students was held in mathematics in 1950. Now there are more than 20 different fields of competition for basic school and gymnasium students. In 2005/2006, Estonian teams participated in 18 International Olympiads or competitions. The Gifted and Talented Development Centre at the University of Tartu (http://www.ttkool.ut.ee/english.html), which developed out from the Science School, coordinates all work involving the Olympiads. This Centre is becoming increasingly integrated with the Estonian e-University (http://www.e-uni.ee), using methods of e-learning and giving challenging opportunities for all interested pupils (Roosaare & Liiber, 2004). All of the Olympiads in Estonia are financed by the Ministry of Education. The Olympiads are not only a challenge for the gifted and talented students but receive high evaluations from most students and teachers at the school level and even from other educational institutions. The winners of the National Olympiad and all the participants in the International Olympiads are entitled to enter Tartu University without further competition for student positions. This is a serious stimulus for gymnasium students. Several participants in the Geography Olympiads have become well-known geographers in Estonia. Geography teachers whose students compete in the final round are mostly famous and acknowledged specialists. Often their work with gifted students is rewarded in one way or another. Many tasks from the Olympiad are used in classroomwork to diversify the teaching-learning process. Therefore, the Geography Olympiad is a development engine not only for students but also for school geography in general.