Interpellation regarding the organization of basic school final examinations and the continuation of studies in gymnasium (No. 801)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-07 00:20
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 28
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 20m
AI Summaries: 28/28 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the interpellation submitted by Riina Solman, Helir-Valdor Seeder, and Mart Maastik concerning the organization of basic school final exams and the continuation of studies in gymnasiums. The core of the interpellation was the concern regarding this year's organization of the national final exams, which took place significantly earlier than in previous years. Riina Solman (V6xrhBxABHI), the representative of the interpellators, highlighted that moving the exams earlier increased the students' workload and mental strain, as they had to study for the exams parallel to their daily schoolwork, thereby reducing the revision period. Criticism was also directed at the non-consideration of retake exam results for admission to state gymnasiums and the closure of application acceptance before the final exams had taken place.
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas defended the changes, explaining that the previous system, where students entered gymnasium before completing basic school, created an even longer and more stressful period for students. The Minister confirmed that moving the exams earlier did not affect exam results and pointed out that many state schools had abandoned entrance tests, which reduced stress for children. Kallas emphasized that the elimination of retake exams is linked to the new compulsory education requirement, which demands that young people who have acquired basic education continue their studies. To support children with learning gaps, preparatory year study places will be created in state schools. During the debate, Solman expressed dissatisfaction with the Minister's answers, finding that the feedback from educators and parents had not been sufficiently taken into account.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Riina Solman (V6xrhBxABHI) was the most active representative of the interpellation, introducing its substance, posing a supplementary question, and delivering the closing remarks during the proceedings. She holds a right-wing position (Isamaa).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the next item on the agenda was an interpellation submitted by Riigikogu members Riina Solman, Helir-Valdor Seeder, and Mart Maastik, concerning the organization of basic school final exams and the continuation of studies in upper secondary school (gymnasium). He then invited Riina Solman to present it at the rostrum.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman expresses concern regarding the management of the education system and the difficulties associated with the transition to Estonian-language instruction. She then focuses on complaints from Tallinn parents concerning the earlier scheduling of the spring basic school final exams. She emphasizes that moving the exams forward significantly increased the burden and mental strain on students, as they were forced to study concurrently with their daily schoolwork, and asks the Minister of Education how this affected the children’s mental health and academic results. Furthermore, she demands clarification as to why state gymnasiums do not consider the results of make-up exams and why the admission process began before the exams were even held, thereby placing young people in an unfair situation.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman voiced concerns regarding the management of the education system, particularly focusing on the earlier scheduling of this year’s basic school final exams. This change has caused significant stress and mental strain among students and parents, as preparation for the exams had to occur simultaneously with regular daily schoolwork. She questioned the minister about the impact this had on children’s mental health and their exam results. Furthermore, she demanded a nationwide solution ensuring that admissions to high schools (gymnasiums) would only take place after all final and retake exams have been completed. This is necessary to prevent a situation where students’ improved results might otherwise be overlooked.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked everyone and called the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, back to the Riigikogu rostrum so that she could answer the submitted interpellation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas and called her back to the Riigikogu rostrum so that she could answer the interpellation that had been submitted.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explained that although the high-pressure period for completing basic school and applying to gymnasium has been condensed to one month, it is not possible to postpone the submission of applications until after graduation. This is because such a change would eliminate gymnasium entrance exams and conflict with teachers’ annual leave, which begins around Midsummer’s Day. Nevertheless, bringing the exams forward has already substantially lowered student stress, given that many schools subsequently opted out of organizing entrance tests, without this having negatively affected the exam results.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explains that while the current system compresses the stressful period of basic school completion and gymnasium admission into a single month, delaying the submission of applications until after the final exams is complicated. This is because gymnasiums require time to carry out entrance examinations, and organizing admissions after Midsummer (Jaanipäev) is impossible due to teacher holidays. Nevertheless, bringing the exams forward this year resulted in the cancellation of entrance tests at many state schools, which significantly reduced student stress without negatively affecting academic results.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the minister, noting that he had at least one question to pose, and subsequently gave the floor to Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman greeted the Speaker of the Riigikogu and raised a brief procedural question, inquiring whether she was permitted to ask only one question.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stressed that the response to the interpellation would be limited to just one question.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman, citing the procedural requirement to provide separate answers to the interpellations submitted in June, is demanding a thorough analysis from the minister. This analysis must determine whether the decision to move the basic school final exams to an earlier date—a move teachers viewed as a threat that curtailed preparation time—nonetheless allowed all curriculum subjects to be covered adequately and ensured students acquired sufficient knowledge, notwithstanding the minister's assertion that the results were positive.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasizes that previous inquiries must be answered, and demands a thorough analysis from the minister regarding whether the earlier scheduling of basic school final exams allowed students to acquire high-quality knowledge and fully cover the curriculum, given teachers' concerns about the shortened preparation time.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explains that a thorough analysis of the quality of subjects would require establishing national exams in all subjects, which is not feasible to implement. She added that in those subjects where final exams were held, the results did not significantly change despite the timing.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas emphasizes that the only way to conduct a thorough analysis of the quality of school subjects would be to introduce national exams in all subjects, but she admits that such an analysis is infeasible, adding that in those subjects where final exams were already held, the results remained stable despite the timing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar. Madis Kallas was invited to the podium to deliver his presentation or address.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas highlighted the disparity in the accessibility of local high schools across different municipalities and asked, using the example of Saaremaa, whether additional analyses had been conducted regarding the critical role of Orissaare Gymnasium and Kuressaare Adult Gymnasium in preventing an education crisis, thus ensuring all young people can secure a high school place.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas raised concerns regarding the differences in the accessibility of local upper secondary schools across Estonia and asked the minister to present further analyses concerning the situation on Saaremaa. This was done to assess the extent of the educational crisis that Orissaare Gymnasium and Kuressaare Adult Gymnasium helped avert by guaranteeing a study placement for every young person on Saaremaa.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas clarified that the closure of Kuressaare Adult Gymnasium is not being planned. Instead, negotiations are underway regarding its transfer to the state, the goal being to standardize it with other adult gymnasiums. It was also confirmed that the need to close Orissaare Gymnasium would only arise in the long term, around 2030, when graduating cohorts decrease in size and could be accommodated by educational institutions in Kuressaare.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas dismissed rumors regarding the closure of Kuressaare Adult Gymnasium, explaining that negotiations are underway to transfer the school to state ownership, which is a nationwide trend. She also confirmed that the adult education track has a firm place in Saaremaa. Additionally, she noted that there are no plans to close Orissaare Gymnasium in the coming years, but in the long term, after 2030, its future may become questionable due to smaller cohorts of graduates.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the round of questions addressed to the minister, thanked him, and opened the parliamentary debate, inviting Riina Solman, the representative of the interpellators, to the rostrum.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar concluded the round of questions directed at the minister, thanked him, and then gave the floor to Riina Solman, the representative of the interpellators, to open the debate.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman accuses the Minister of Education of excessive self-confidence and ignoring feedback from pedagogues and schools, sharply criticizing the new school organization which allows students to graduate with failing grades and abolishes the possibility of supplementary exams. She questions what kind of quality and future this lack of requirements prepares for children, emphasizing that a wise person listens to others.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes the Minister of Education for excessive self-confidence and for disregarding feedback from teachers and parents, stressing that the current policy—which allows students to graduate with failing grades and eliminates the option of retaking exams—undermines students' ability to mature, lowers the quality of education, and leaves unresolved the question of how secondary education can be guaranteed for students who have gaps in their knowledge.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar, having thanked everyone and confirmed that there were no further requests to speak, then gave the floor to the minister, inviting him/her to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, explained the changes to basic school graduation, emphasizing that while final exams will remain, supplementary exams that masked learning gaps—which previously allowed students with insufficient knowledge to leave the education system—will be abolished. Furthermore, a mandatory study requirement will be introduced, directing students with weak results (especially those with significant gaps in mathematics or the Estonian language) to a special preparatory year to ensure they acquire fundamental knowledge before moving to the next educational level.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, explains that basic school final exams will remain, but the remedial exams, which previously masked students' actual learning gaps, will be abolished. The goal of this system change is to ensure the compulsory learning requirement is met and to offer special support—and potentially an additional preparatory year in state schools—to those who fail to meet the 50% passing threshold on the exam. This measure aims to eliminate learning gaps before students move on to the next educational level, simultaneously solving the previous system's problem where admission to gymnasium (upper secondary school) occurred before the final exams were even taken.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the esteemed minister and subsequently announced that the discussions were closed and the consideration of the ninth agenda item had been concluded.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the esteemed Minister and subsequently closed the discussions, thereby concluding the consideration of the ninth item on the agenda.