Tartu slashes kindergarten spots as birth rates plummet further

A shrinking generation forces tough choices in Tartu. Teachers face layoffs as the city prepares for 1,400 fewer children in kindergartens by 2030.

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2026 March 20 . 9:06 PM

1 min read

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Tartu slashes kindergarten spots as birth rates plummet further

Tartu is reducing its kindergarten capacity this autumn as birth rates continue to decline. The city will cut 14 classes, leaving around 260 fewer spots for young children. Officials warn that further reductions may follow in the coming years.

The drop in enrollments comes after four years of falling birth numbers in Tartu. Each year, the city has seen a couple hundred fewer births than before. By 2030, officials expect 1,400 fewer kindergarten-age children than today.

Several kindergartens will see immediate changes. Mõmmik Kindergarten will lose one classroom, though the exact number of layoffs there remains unclear. Kelluke Kindergarten in Annelinn will not reopen two daycare groups, resulting in four teachers and one assistant losing their jobs. Annelinn District faces the steepest cuts overall. Across Tartu, about 40 kindergarten teachers are expected to be laid off. Some have already left or are planning to leave their positions. City leaders have signalled that more difficult decisions lie ahead as the number of young children keeps shrinking.

The cuts will reduce kindergarten places by 260 this autumn. With birth rates still falling, Tartu anticipates further reductions in staff and classrooms. The city's long-term forecast suggests a decline of 1,400 kindergarten-age children within the next six years.