Interpellation regarding failure in Basic School final examinations (No. 800)

Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting

Date: 2025-10-06 23:43

Total Speeches: 27

Membership: 15

Agenda Duration: 36m

AI Summaries: 27/27 Speeches (100.0%)

Analysis: Structured Analysis

Politicians Speaking Time

Politicians

Analysis

Summary

The agenda item concerned the Riigikogu members' inquiry (No. 800) regarding failures in basic school final exams, particularly the mathematics exams, in the spring of 2025, focusing specifically on the extremely poor results at Valga Basic School. The inquirer, Ester Karuse, highlighted that over half of the graduates at Valga Basic School (50 out of 85) failed to achieve a passing grade on the mathematics exam, which casts doubt on their future opportunities to study in gymnasium. Karuse asked how the state supports young people with learning gaps and how the fulfillment of compulsory education until the age of 18 is ensured.

Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explained that the national average math exam result (64%) was comparable to previous years, but the problem is concentrated in schools serving children from socio-economically weaker backgrounds and those with special educational needs. The Minister introduced changes for 2026, which will abolish the mathematics resit exam, given that compulsory schooling lasts until the age of 18. Kallas confirmed that the state is creating and funding preparatory study places (primarily in vocational schools) to close learning gaps, including for children whose home language is Russian or Ukrainian. She recommended implementing smaller study groups and temporary support groups to aid schools similar to Valga. In her concluding remarks, Ester Karuse sharply criticized the educational management of the Valga municipality, referencing a court dispute between the municipal government and teachers that has led to a mass exodus of teaching staff, and demanded state support for Valga equal to that provided to Ida-Virumaa due to linguistic diversity.

Decisions Made 1
Collective Decision

No decisions were made

Most Active Speaker
Ester Karuse
Ester Karuse

Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed

Ester Karuse was the most active speaker, submitting an official inquiry, asking a follow-up question, and delivering a long and emotional closing statement, in which she sharply criticized both the state's unequal approach to regional issues and the education management of Valga municipality. Her position, as the representative of those submitting the inquiry, was critical (among others).

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
23:43:58
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller proceeded to the eighth item on the agenda, which was an interpellation submitted by members of the Riigikogu concerning the failure rate in basic school final examinations, and requested Riigikogu member Ester Karuse to act as the rapporteur for the interpellation.

Ester Karuse
Ester Karuse
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
23:44:27
AI Summary

Ester Karuse is raising a query to the Minister of Education and Research regarding the extremely poor results of the basic school mathematics final exams, citing Valga Basic School as an example, where over half of the graduates failed to achieve a passing grade on the exam, which hinders their ability to continue their studies. She emphasizes that this is a widespread social and regional problem, not just an educational concern, and asks the minister how remediation will be provided in the gymnasium (upper secondary school) for students with weak foundational knowledge, and how the fulfillment of compulsory education until the age of 18 will be guaranteed, especially considering that waiving the exam requirement does not solve the substantive problem.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
23:48:43
AI Summary

Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded his address and subsequently gave the floor to the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, requesting her to respond to the submitted query.

Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
23:49:03
AI Summary

Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas analyzed the results of the basic school mathematics exam, noting that they are similar to the years during the COVID era, but 23% of students failed to achieve the 50% threshold for basic knowledge. She emphasized the need to offer specialized support to schools serving students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special needs. Furthermore, she clarified that as compulsory education is being extended until the age of 18, the re-examination will be eliminated. It will be replaced by preparatory curricula designed to address learning gaps for four specific target groups, including students whose gaps stem from issues related to mathematics, the Estonian language, or health, thereby ensuring their continued educational journey.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
23:56:51
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller announced the opening of the question period and subsequently yielded the floor to Riina Sikkut.

Riina Sikkut
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioon
23:56:53
AI Summary

Riina Sikkut describes a negative spiral where schools in socio-economically weaker regions lose students and are subsequently closed down. She asks the minister to present concrete proactive steps that would guarantee additional support (such as support specialists and higher salaries) for local schools, with the aim of halting school closures and improving the quality of education in challenging circumstances.

Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
23:57:56
AI Summary

Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas refutes the correlation between teachers' salaries and learning outcomes, focusing instead on effective intervention measures. She emphasizes the need for smaller study groups (under 24 students) and temporary support groups, particularly to assist children from socio-economically weaker backgrounds who have low learning motivation. She notes that the successful implementation of these measures requires the involvement of additional teachers.

Aseesimees Arvo Aller
00:00:02
AI Summary

Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Madis Kallas with a brief phrase, calling upon him to speak.

Madis Kallas
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
00:00:04
AI Summary

Madis Kallas, referencing the issue of teacher qualification discussed in the Culture Committee, asks the minister whether the correlation between teacher qualification and student exam results (particularly in light of the extreme case in Valga) has been analyzed, and what the ministry could do if problems are identified in this area.

Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
00:00:56
AI Summary

Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explained that although the data for the Valga school have not been studied separately, the nationwide analysis of mathematics results shows no correlation between teacher qualifications and learning outcomes, emphasizing that the only strong connection was found instead with the students' socio-economic background.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
00:01:40
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Reili Ranna.

Reili Rand
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioon
00:01:42
AI Summary

Reili Rand is raising concerns about the impact of the new exam system—specifically the earlier exam dates—on the mental health of students and teachers. She notes that feedback from schools suggests the change has caused more fear and anxiety than usual, and she is asking the minister to evaluate whether the ministry has mapped out this negative effect.

Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
00:02:29
AI Summary

Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas is criticizing the previous high school admission system, calling it illogical and stressful. She points out that the entrance exams used to take place before the basic school final exams, which meant that the admission could later be revoked, causing a "double trauma" for the children. The new system aims to make the process simpler and less complicated for the student by focusing on the final exam results. It also bans entrance exams in state gymnasiums and restores the right to ask students for their preferences, which should prevent excessive attendance at interviews and guarantee an admission decision by June 9th at the latest.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
00:06:57
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar then gave the floor to Ester Karus.

Ester Karuse
Ester Karuse
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
00:06:59
AI Summary

Ester Karuse raises the problem of language immersion, noting that the weak command of the state language among non-native speaking students slows down the learning process for the entire class. She then criticizes the state's unequal approach, questioning why Valga, which also has significant ethnic diversity, has been neglected and does not receive salary support for teachers, unlike Ida-Virumaa.

Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
00:07:44
AI Summary

Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas confirmed that 9 million euros have been allocated in the state budget to support schools where over 10% of the students are non-native speakers. She also stressed the urgent need to establish separate study groups in language-intensive subjects (such as Estonian language and geography) in order to implement the language immersion methodology and provide differentiated instruction based on the student's language proficiency level, as a child who does not master the language at a native level requires a different approach.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
00:09:23
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar, Jaak Aab was called to the podium, but the content of his presentation has not been submitted.

Jaak Aab
Jaak Aab
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
00:09:25
AI Summary

Jaak Aab raises the question of finding the necessary resources and funding to fulfill the compulsory education requirement established until the age of 18, especially concerning the supplementary education for those students who fail to pass their basic school final exams, and demands clarity regarding the nature and size of the targeted support promised by the state to local governments.

Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
00:10:25
AI Summary

Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stressed that the responsibility for guaranteeing study places at the gymnasium and vocational education level lies with the state, not local municipalities. The state will cover the shortfall of nearly 600 places, creating them primarily within state schools and vocational education institutions, including preparatory studies and applied secondary school curricula, by increasing the operational support allocation next year. Local municipalities' role, however, is limited to monitoring the admission status of children from their respective areas via SAIS, without any obligation to secure the places themselves.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
00:12:34
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar called Anti Allas to the podium or gave him the floor.

Anti Allas
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
00:12:35
AI Summary

Anti Allas sharply highlights the urgent need to eliminate learning gaps in mathematics and addresses the chronic underfunding of inclusive education—issues that are deepening educational problems. He asks the minister directly when the government will formulate a long-term plan, complete with specific budgetary allocations, to finally resolve these systemic shortcomings.

Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
00:13:47
AI Summary

Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas emphasized that schools have an effective learning support system in place to address learning gaps. This system will be further supported next year by increasing the local government differentiation fund by 2% (from 22% to 24%). This increase aims to ensure that schools can provide the necessary support specialists and assistant teachers for children who require learning assistance.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
00:14:53
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the minister, concluded the round of questions, and opened the debates, requesting that Ester Karuse, the representative of the interpellators, return to the Riigikogu podium.

Ester Karuse
Ester Karuse
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
00:15:12
AI Summary

Ester Karuse sharply criticizes the growing inequality in Estonian education, citing Valga as an example where the state fails to ensure equal conditions or provide teachers with the same level of support as in other regions. She stresses that the poor academic results at Valga Basic School are not the fault of the teachers, but rather poor local education management. This mismanagement has led to the absurd situation where the municipal government has taken its own teachers to court over a salary dispute, resulting in a mass exodus of educators and prompting her to demand qualification requirements for education managers as well.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
00:19:52
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar briefly and specifically requested three minutes of extra time.

Ester Karuse
Ester Karuse
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
00:19:55
AI Summary

Ester Karuse appealed to the residents of Valga municipality, urging them to make a conscious choice to save the education system. She stressed the necessity of brave and wise decisions and asked them not to elect the current officials, whom she accused of tearing the Valga education sector apart.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
00:20:18
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that, as no further requests to speak had been submitted and the minister also did not wish to take the floor, he closed the debate and thereby concluded the consideration of agenda item number eight.