Inquiry Regarding the Work of Kristina Kallas (No. 632)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary session
Date: 2024-09-09 19:02
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 42
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 33m
AI Summaries: 42/42 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's agenda focused on the interpellation submitted by Riigikogu members Vadim Belobrovtsev, Aleksei Jevgrafov, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, and Lauri Laats concerning Kristina Kallas’s performance as Minister of Education and Research. The decision was to gather the Minister's explanation and assess its implications within the context of the current government: the opposition questioned why Kristina Kallas remains a minister in the new cabinet and whether she is competent in that position. The interpellation procedure brought to light broader discussions regarding education system reforms, challenges associated with the transition to Estonian-language instruction, and issues concerning teachers' salaries and working conditions. The conclusion of the first agenda item involved a review of the responses and set the direction for continued debate on the funding and quality of the education system.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made. Answers were provided to the interpellations, but the Riigikogu did not proceed to the adoption of specific political decisions regarding the current agenda item. The next steps involve further discussion on education policy and the organization of Estonian language instruction.
Most Active Speaker
Vadim Belobrovtsev (EKRE) – a right-wing politician. He was the most active speaker in these discussions, representing the opposition's standpoint and, for the first time, strongly challenging Kristina Kallas's competence and education policy. His role was primarily to represent those who submitted the interpellation and to lead the critical discourse, which reflects the right-wing opposition's intense focus on the performance of the education system and ministerial accountability.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The first item on today’s agenda is the interpellation concerning the work of Kristina Kallas, which was submitted on April 30th by Riigikogu members Vadim Belobrovtsev, Aleksei Jevgrafov, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, and Lauri Laats. Mr. Belobrovtsev is requested to serve as the rapporteur.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The opposition is asking the new prime minister whether Kristina Kallas is fit to serve as the Minister of Education and Research, taking into account the no-confidence vote in April, the issues surrounding e-exams, the failure of negotiations concerning teachers' salaries and working conditions, and the ongoing teacher shortage in schools.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker expressed thanks and invited Prime Minister Kristen Michal to the Riigikogu rostrum to respond to the interpellation.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The Prime Minister confirms that Kristina Kallas is a competent and diligent Minister of Education and Research, and she bears crucial responsibility for implementing the transition plan to Estonian-language education, which began this year.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the Prime Minister, said there were questions, and invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev emphasizes that the transition to Estonian-language education is an important reform, but it is necessary to address the issues surrounding teachers' salaries and working conditions, as well as school closures and the risk of a second strike, which calls into question the suitability of the Minister of Education for the post.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The Minister of Education has made and continues to make significant efforts, and the government is striving to identify reasonable areas for cutbacks that sustain the education system, while simultaneously bringing additional funding into the education system through all possible means.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She raises the issue that a large number of teachers in Tallinn schools lack pedagogical education, and questions whether this situation is acceptable and if the Ministry of Education should be held accountable for it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Aleksei Yevgrafov to the podium.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
He/She thanked them and said that they don't read the same news channels, and asked for the link to be sent to him/her so he/she could read the story.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Helle-Moonika Helme to the stage.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme demands an answer and accuses the government: allegedly 2.4 billion euros has been wasted or stolen, teachers have not received the 17-euro salary increase, the transition to Estonian-language education has been delayed, and due to immigration, the education of Estonians is under threat. She asks whether the responsibility falls to Kristina Kallas or the Prime Minister.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that if anyone knows that something has been stolen somewhere, they should report it to law enforcement. He promised additional funding for Estonian-language education, viewing it as one of the most serious reforms, and emphasized that quality education is born through good teachers and a functioning school environment. He also believes that Kristina Kallas will manage well as Minister of Education, and she will come to the podium later to answer questions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler points out that teachers ended their strike in the hope of a salary increase, but the working group decided against raising wages. He then asks where Kristina Kallas plans to find funding for education, given that the government continues to promise austerity measures and news reports confirm the lack of financing.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirms that the only exceptions to the cuts are pensions, national defense capability, internal security, and teachers, and emphasizes the need to increase education funding, referencing the Jaak Aaviksoo report and the ongoing debate over professional salaries.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Kert Kingo to the stage.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo corrected Moonika Helme's figure of 2.4 billion from the National Audit Office report and said that the transition to Estonian-language education is Russification because Russian-speaking students are predominant, and Estonian-speaking children are forced to teach them Estonian.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The Prime Minister emphasizes that education in Estonia must be acquired in the Estonian language, and that no compromises should be made on this, and the current Minister of Education is dedicated to this cause.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invited Vladimir Arhipov to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arhipov recommended that teacher recruitment should not focus solely on language categories (such as C1 or B2), but instead assess actual teaching and language skills, and that local governments, together with the Language Inspectorate, should be allowed to form a commission to help solve the teacher shortage and ensure a good education for children.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The national system ensures that a teacher's language proficiency category is as crucial as their right to manage, and that accountability adheres to established standards. Consequently, there is no need to form additional commissions, and the system provides everyone with the opportunity to acquire these categories and work in educational institutions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Martin Helme.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that Estonian education and the entire society must be Estonian-speaking. He accuses the Reform Party over their earlier plans for transitioning education and asserts that the real Russifiers are actually Svet, Läänemets, and Kristina Kallas, who are currently in the government and are pushing multiculturalism.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
He recalled that in the former government, which also included the party you led, Mihhail Kõlvart explained to the Center Party voters that this was the only way to prevent the transition to Estonian-language education.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Tõnis Lukas to speak.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas asks whether and how the current government is addressing the salary demands of cultural workers simultaneously with improving teachers' salaries, and whether, should exceptions be made, the pay issues in the cultural and educational sectors are viewed as a unified solution.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that they are addressing wage demands across all sectors. The budget currently being drafted is strict and lean, and the public sector will reduce its spending by approximately 10%, with the exception of pensions, teachers, the Defence Forces, and internal security. Further steps will be decided during the process of handling the budgets for future years.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Anti Poolamets to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets expressed serious concern regarding the success of the Estonian-language transition reform, highlighting that children who do not speak Estonian are entering primary school. He also questioned whether teachers' language proficiency is sufficient and why an exception was made for those who do not speak the language well.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The Prime Minister confirmed that no exceptions were granted, that exams must be passed for the transition, and that deadlines will not be changed; the only option for preserving Russian-language education was a coalition with Isamaa and EKRE, otherwise, preserving the Russian school would have been impossible.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller emphasizes that the respondent to the inquiry must confirm Kristina Kalla's competence to continue working, citing previous decisions made regarding school closures and cuts to rural education, and asks whether there are plans for further school closures and the reduction of educational opportunities in rural areas in the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called upon Arvo Aller to speak.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The quality of education in Estonia hinges on regional funding, the number of children attending schools, and the taxpayer's capacity to sustain the state. Consequently, limited resources dictate where the highest quality education can be achieved.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is just a request to call Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets claims that the minister made exceptions for the transition of Russian schools to the Estonian language and allowed B1-level teachers to teach in Estonian, and she asks whether such a teacher is truly capable of teaching in Estonian.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Krista-n? Wait, no: Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that the transitional clause applies to individuals in the B1 category who have studied and taken the exams, but failed to complete them by the August 1st deadline. He added that these individuals will most likely have the opportunity next year to reach B2, or the higher intermediate level, ensuring that those who are making an effort achieve better Estonian language proficiency during this transition period.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the Prime Minister, announced that there were no further questions, opened the debates, and invited Martin Helme to the Riigikogu rostrum, who was granted three minutes of additional time.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme is accusing the governments led by Kristen Michal and Kaja Kallas of the Russification of Estonians, the botched transition to Estonian-language education, and permitting mass immigration, labeling their actions as deceitful and detrimental.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman offered his thanks and then called Evelin Poolamets to the Riigikogu podium next.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets criticizes the exceptions granted for the transition to Estonian-language instruction and the B1-level permits issued in Russian schools, emphasizing that only teachers who truly master Estonian can ensure high-quality Estonian-language education. She calls for an end to the stalling tactics and demands assurance that the teacher standing in front of the class genuinely possesses strong Estonian language skills, while simultaneously pointing out the lack of transparency regarding the use of 42 million euros.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the consideration of today's first agenda item and closed the debate, stating that there were no further requests to speak and the Prime Minister did not wish to take the floor.