School closures in rural areas
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 4th sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-11-06 15:42
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu discussed the issue of closing rural schools in today’s information session, focusing particularly on the role of Hiiumaa Vocational School and increasing the sustainability of small schools. During the discussion, it was highlighted that to ensure the functioning of the vocational and basic education system, teacher salaries must remain a strong priority, and resources must be concentrated where they most support student learning and school operations. Regional specificities were also addressed – the special needs of schools on islands and in Setomaa, and opportunities to preserve their cultural and educational influence. The Minister emphasized that this is not simply a budget deficit, but budgetary hygiene – surpluses are cut and resources are directed first to services intended for teachers and students. Additionally, there was mention of the intention to find additional funds for the Obinitsa training place and the preservation of Setomaa small schools, and the future role of manors and the Suuremõisa castle was discussed in the context of a horticultural education center or other function. Overall, the impression was that the government and the Ministry of Education are focusing attention on teacher salaries and creating a sustainable learning environment for schools, while also seeking additional resources to preserve regional specificities.
Decisions Made 1
No final decisions were made at today's information session. It was clearly stated that measures are being worked on to increase the prioritization of current expenses and to find additional funding to preserve small schools and schools with cultural distinctiveness, but the final confirmations from local governments (especially the fulfillment of the 60% salary fund target) and the implementation of more detailed mechanisms are still pending. Overall, the message was that there is a plan to cooperate with the education workers' union, and the need to confirm agreements and budgetary arrangements for future endeavors with local governments.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas. She led the discussion, offering explanations regarding the state's directions concerning the prioritization of education spending and the intentions to preserve small schools. According to political positioning, her role is simply classified as "other" (neither left nor right).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar announced that the Riigikogu would submit the ninth question to the Minister of Education and Science Kristina Kallas, and the topic would be the closure of rural schools.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
They emphasize the importance of preserving the Hiiumaa Vocational School's fields of study and the modification of the original aim of support for small schools, together with funding cuts, and they ask why the funding for applications and their volume decreased in the future and what problems lie behind this.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Education and Science Minister Kristina Kallas said that the cancellation of surpluses in the state budget is a correction of budgetary hygiene, not a reduction of the budget for the measure, and although the initial invoices for the small-school support measure were larger than realized, it was decided to write off the surpluses, while emphasising the need to preserve regionally distinctive schools — island schools and the small Setomaa schools — and to seek additional funds to support Obinitsa School and other culturally distinctive schools.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked and asked Tõnis Lukas to pose a clarifying question.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
They note that, against the backdrop of population decline, regional policy must be rethought so that people would live all across Estonia, and they express concern about a government-approved agreement whose aim is to channel at least 60% of general education expenditures into the teachers' salary fund, and which could put pressure on municipalities to close schools, while asking at the same time whether school closures can be justified by teachers' demands?
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Summary: Education Minister Kristina Kallas emphasizes that these are continuation measures involving the redistribution of ongoing costs, not school closures, with the main priority being teachers' salaries, because a teacher is the education system's greatest asset and education costs should first be directed toward teachers and then toward the school environment and supporting services.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks, promises to take one more supplementary question, and turns to Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme highlighted that the threat of closing manor schools endangers both local education and life, as well as their cultural-historical heritage, and referred to Norway's support in the renovation, stressing the need to preserve the schools.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Education and Science Minister Kristina Kallas stressed that manor schools in Estonia must be preserved as Estonia's distinctive feature, and there is a need for a clear overview of municipalities' financial situations; at the same time, regarding the educational function of Suuremõisa Castle in Hiiumaa, a decision must be made whether to continue the horticultural training center with private funding or to give the castle a new role.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar closes the information hour, announces that the time is up, thanks the participants, and confirms that at two o’clock the Riigikogu plenary session will begin.