Interpellation Regarding the Technical Failure of the Joint Entrance Exams for State Gymnasiums (No. 627)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary session
Date: 2024-09-09 19:35
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 21
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 33m
AI Summaries: 21/21 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first item on the agenda concerned the interpellation submitted by Riigikogu members Tõnis Lukas, Andres Metsoja, and Helir-Valdor Seeder on April 8, regarding the technical failure of the joint entrance exams for state gymnasiums. The core issue was why various systemic malfunctions occurred during the testing process and how coordination and accountability were managed during the organization of these exams. A particularly central question was why the exam data and results were simultaneously annulled, how equal access for students to state gymnasiums will be ensured going forward, and what the future plan is for reconciling the processes of basic school final exams and gymnasium admission. Since the discussion covered administrative accountability, informing schools, and the readiness of the technical infrastructure, it also addressed the transition to e-exams and the plan for how schools and students will proceed in a standardized manner.
Decisions Made 2
Decision: The transition to e-exams is postponed by one year, and the continued option to use paper tests during the admissions period will remain, in order to ensure equal opportunities for students despite technical challenges.
Decision: Inspection and certification of schools' IT infrastructure must be completed before the next admission period to prevent situations unsuitable for testing due to substandard equipment; students and teachers will be provided with clear guidelines and a schedule, along with distinct grading criteria for the basic school final examinations.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa faction), who spearheaded the submission of the interpellation and raised several questions and proposals concerning the subsequent process. His activity places him within the right-wing political camp, and he maintained an active presence throughout the entire discussion.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar introduces the second item on the agenda, which is the interpellation submitted by Riigikogu members Tõnis Lukas, Andres Metsoja, and Helir-Valdor Seeder concerning the technical failure of the joint entrance exams for state gymnasiums, and invites Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas to serve as the rapporteur.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Following the annulment of results due to a technical failure during the joint entrance exams for state gymnasiums, Tõnis Lukas highlighted issues of coordination and responsibility. He also submitted a proposal aimed at finding solutions concerning the impact of using paper tests versus transitioning to e-exams, and clarifying the plans for integrating final basic school and gymnasium examinations with the admission process.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker invited the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the query.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that using basic school final exam results and interview-based admission reduces stress. It was recommended that state secondary schools abandon entrance tests, but e-exams will be postponed by one year. Furthermore, the review and certification of school infrastructure will ensure equal opportunities for all students.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the Minister, announces that there are questions, and invites Tõnis Lukas to take the floor.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
During his speech, Tõnis Lukas brought up the issue of the Ministry of Education's responsibility and coordination regarding the use of technical facilities at state high schools. He also inquired whether the impact of these changes on the workload of teachers in the final years of basic school and high school teachers had been discussed with teachers' organizations beforehand.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
During the presentation, Kristina Kallas highlighted that a lack of information flow emerged between the developers and the school administration department. Furthermore, load tests were not conducted due to architectural changes, which could potentially threaten the operation of the system that worked last year. Nevertheless, the differentiation letters reached the schools, and the basic school final exams are scheduled before gymnasium admissions. Ultimately, all learning outcomes must be mastered.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls upon Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
This speech criticizes the government's panicked optimism and its plan for reforming higher education. Furthermore, it raises questions about the idea, floated in a recent interview, of introducing a 500-euro registration fee for all students at the start of every academic year—a move that would signal the transition of higher education to a tuition-based system. The speech asks what the intended goal of this measure is and whether it would constitute wealth-based selection.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that this is not the minister’s brilliant idea, but rather a long-standing proposal from universities to introduce private funding into higher education, which would bring in approximately 20 million euros. At the same time, it would compel students to genuinely commit to studying for their free spot. This charge is actually not tuition, but a fee resembling a state levy tied to a specific threshold for quality higher education. Furthermore, this is a trend among Western universities attempting to revitalize accountability for utilizing a free study place.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asked whether the ministry has enough staff and available resources to thoroughly inspect the IT infrastructure of schools, and whether officials plan to go to the schools themselves to check the computers, or if they have some other plan.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas explains that a ministry official is not an inspector; rather, the school must comply with the established standard and confirm both that compliance and the availability of the necessary equipment for the examinations.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller called upon Helir-Valdor Seeder to speak.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder asks what the exact responsibility of the Ministry of Education is for the failure of the joint entrance exams for state high schools, how this responsibility is expressed, and whether it has affected the future of young people, especially in a situation where some students were deprived of the opportunity to take that entrance exam.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas said that this was a mistake that affected the future of young people, and the responsibility is to take ownership, apologize, and do everything to ensure a similar mistake does not happen again in the future, to learn from it, and to guarantee the admission of young people through other solutions, even though the test results are currently unavailable.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller announced that there would be no further speakers, and Tõnis Lukas would take the floor next.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Speaking about the responsibility and coordination between the Ministry of Education and state upper secondary schools, he/she emphasizes the need to change the timing of the basic school final exams, reduce the workload on teachers and schools, and ensure that the final certificate is fairly distinguishable for young people and their families from basic school entrance requirements.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The talk focuses on the use of three additional minutes.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Addressing the schools' reaction to e-exams, Tõnis Lukas stated that while paper tests will remain, and the development of e-exams must be further thought through due to concerns regarding security and the influence of artificial intelligence, it is advisable to take time before widespread implementation and postpone the e-exams until all necessary preconditions have been met.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
I see no further requests to speak, and the discussion on this agenda item is concluded.