Draft law (447 SE) for amending the Education Act of the Republic of Estonia and amending other related laws (establishing the obligation to attend school) – third reading
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 4th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-12-04 16:04
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 20
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 30m
AI Summaries: 20/20 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item concerned the third reading of the bill on amending the Education Act of the Republic of Estonia and amending other related laws (establishing the obligation to attend school) initiated by the Government of the Republic (obligation to attend school) bill 447. The bill aims to extend the obligation to attend school while simultaneously introducing significant changes to the organization of vocational education, the inclusion of preparatory education, and a more flexible structure and redirection of curricula between schools. This also includes a notable emphasis on increasing the workload of support specialists and teachers, additional obligations for vocational education centers and institutions, and transitions to four-year curricula in some fields.
During the debate, it was highlighted that the changes are aimed at increasing the continuation of young people and improving the level of education, but at the same time, concerns about funding were raised, and the need to find additional resources to ensure the comprehensive and functional implementation of the law. Representatives of the factions presented various viewpoints: Isamaa emphasized extending the obligation to attend school until the age of 18 and the importance of vocational education reform; the Reform Party supported the changes and saw them as increasing flexibility and opportunities; SDE focused on the continuation of young people and the role of preparatory education; EKRE expressed criticism regarding funding and impacts, warning of a possible increase in the burden on regional and school networks. As a result of the final vote, the bill was adopted, confirming a notable political agreement and the state's readiness to move forward.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 447 has been passed into law.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Tõnis Lukas (a member of the Isamaa faction). He represents a right-wing perspective (on the right) and raised several key issues: raising the compulsory schooling age to 18, the need for vocational education reform, the importance of additional funding and resources, and the need to update curricula. He was one of the main initiators and a necessary shaper of the atmosphere during the negotiations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy speaker Toomas Kivimägi announces the start of the agenda, opens draft Bill 447 for its third reading concerning amendments to the Education Act and related laws (establishing a duty to study), and would first like to give the floor to Tõnis Lukas of the Isamaa faction.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas recommends raising the compulsory schooling age to 18 and launching a reform of vocational education, under which the workload of support specialists and teachers will be increased, four-year curricula will be introduced in vocational education institutions, and students’ mobility between curricula and educational institutions will be enhanced.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He asserts that the speech lasts three minutes.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas stresses that in order to implement vocational education reforms, additional funding is needed, because the current plans, which aim to cover costs with internal reserves and to make adult learning paid, do not provide the necessary resources, and without additional funds and clear financial guarantees, achieving the goals is at risk.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, expressed thanks in his speech.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
This is one of the drawbacks of this law, because after my speech our faction's vote was left undecided, but those were their positions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked and said that the topic could be discussed further in the faction, and submitted a request to Heljo Pikhof on behalf of the faction.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
According to Heljo Pikhofi's speech, the aim of the bill is to reduce the share of young people with a low level of education by establishing a compulsory education from the age of seven and until turning 18 or until obtaining a qualification, while at the same time creating flexible study pathways, eighteen new curricula, and the possibility to take non-formal learning into account, so that young people are not left behind.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that three more minutes would be added to the debate.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The state remains responsible for creating educational opportunities and wishes to extend the compulsory education obligation to the age of 18, in order to improve post-basic education opportunities and youth employment, taking Finland and Germany's experiences as a model.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
To begin the speech, thanks are extended, and on behalf of the Reform Party faction Liina Kersnale is invited to speak.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
On behalf of the Reform Party faction, Liina Kersna said that they would definitely support raising the compulsory education age to 18, which would make the educational path more flexible and individualized and would give the possibility after primary school to take a gap year and obtain both vocational and general secondary education, so that the youth could later head to university, and she added that by 2026 funding must be provided for a sufficient minimum salary for teachers and for a career model, and to create a differentiation fund, which must also exist in vocational education, and to make vocational education funding comparable to general education funding, which requires additional resources and planning.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks you very much and asks to give the floor to Arvo Aller on behalf of the EKRE faction.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller said that the bill would bring drastic changes, the impact of which is unclear, and that the workload of municipalities has not been clearly planned, and which, due to the siloed nature of state funding and the organization of schools, may regionally lead to the closure of rural schools and, for example, threaten Hiiumaa Vocational School and Vana-Vigala School; therefore a transparent impact assessment and effective cooperation are needed before further steps.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Three more minutes are requested during the speech.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
According to Arvo Alleri, 44 municipalities have been placed in a forced standstill regarding school choices, and the invisibility of impact assessments creates social deficits and people’s dissatisfaction, while he emphasizes that the principle of lifelong learning must enable self-improvement, and the Estonian Conservative People's Party does not support the present bill.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi said that although there is a beautiful ball on Riina Solman's desk, it stirs envy, but it is not needed on the desk, and he asked that it not be displayed on the desk.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman said that the ball that remained on the table during the information hour was an illustrative tool for the prime minister to ask a question about the foreign minister's conduct at UN votes, and the ball originated from the city of the Druze and Arab tribes near the northern border of Israel, where Hezbollah killed 12 children; the parents asked to bring the ball to Estonia and to ask whether we know what is happening there and how they are being terrorized there under rocket fire, and she apologized and is removing it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi informed that the lead committee will conduct the final vote on Bill 447 and prepare it for submission, and asks members of the Riigikogu to take a position and vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Bill 447 was adopted as law: 52 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour, 21 against, and 3 abstained.