Countries unite on the central role of teachers but diverge on AI strategies; Estonia is praised for sustained excellence and innovation.
Tallinn, Estonia – The 16th International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) concluded yesterday with delegations from nearly 20 top-performing education systems announcing concrete commitments for the year ahead. While all countries agreed that teachers remain at the heart of quality education, significant differences emerged in how – and to what extent – they plan to integrate artificial intelligence into their classrooms.
“All countries are aligned on one thing: teachers are essential today and will be even more essential in the future,” said Kristina Kallas, Estonia’s Minister of Education and Research. “But when it comes to AI, we see very different approaches. Teachers and their representatives tend to be more cautious, calling for more regulation. Policymakers are often more eager to see the opportunities.”
She emphasised that children are already using AI tools independently. “It’s a fast-moving speed train that we’re just trying to jump on. The question is: what’s your strategy for jumping on it?”
“One thing is absolutely clear: AI is not going to replace teachers. We see that we need more of them, not fewer,” assured Kallas.
Reemo Voltri, President of the Estonian Educational Personnel Union, said the summit reaffirmed that Estonian teachers are highly professional by international standards.
“Heavy workload continues to be an issue we must address, as do wages,” Voltri said. “We want to make sure that amid all these changes, teacher wellbeing is also properly taken into account.”
“The tiger keeps flying”
OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher praised Estonia as the ideal host for the summit, calling it “the poster child of education in Europe.”
“Estonia has shown us that excellence is not isolated, but can be shared consistently and achieved throughout the system – translating bold ambitions into classroom reality,” Schleicher said. “Some might think it’s some kind of fairy tale, but then you visit schools, and you see that reality. You can see that success is not primarily about money; it’s about ambition.”
Schleicher referenced Estonia’s “Tiger Leap” programme: “You often hear about the Estonian tiger leap in the 1990s, but then you visit the classrooms and see that the tiger never stopped. The tiger keeps flying. What impressed me most when I spoke with teachers is that they feel proud to be part of this transformation.”
Protecting the teacher-student relationship in the AI age
David Edwards, General Secretary of Education International, emphasised that quality education depends on “tools, time, and trust – done right and purposefully, with the support and conditions to sustain teachers, the right salaries, the right voice, and professional opportunities. That really is at the heart of good education systems.”
On AI, Edwards issued a caution: “We have to protect the teacher-student relationship. Certainly, with AI, we have to make sure that some of the more deceptive anthropomorphic AIs are not going to build attachments with children that they should be forming with their teachers, friends, and peers. That will mean some regulations.”
Edwards noted that Estonia’s pioneering role will provide valuable lessons for other countries. “Estonia is going to go first in many ways and will be coming back and telling us how it’s going. We have different realities, but we can learn from each other.”
Edwards also highlighted the importance of international cooperation at a time when multilateralism is under pressure. “There’s a feeling that multilateralism and cooperation are out – ISTP shows that it is still very much relevant. We can respect each other’s opinions; we can be in dialogue with each other.”
Country commitments announced
Each participating country presented three concrete commitments to improve its education systems in the next year at the summit’s closing session. These commitments will be tracked over the coming year, with Education International and OECD monitoring progress. Country commitments will be made available at the ISTP 2026 website in the coming days. The summit’s final report will be issued later this year.
About ISTP 2026
The 16th International Summit on the Teaching Profession brought together education ministers, teachers’ union leaders, and practitioners from Australia (Victoria), Canada (Quebec), Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland). Austria and Germany (Bavaria) participated as observers.
This year’s theme was “Shifting Gears: Teachers and Learners in the Future Learning Environment.”
ISTP 2026 was organised by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research in cooperation with the OECD, Education International, and the Estonian Educational Personnel Union.