Inquiry regarding the merging of schools for children with special educational needs (no 684)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-02-17 17:41
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 38
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 51m
AI Summaries: 38/38 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda for the third consultation concerned the merging of schools for children with special educational needs into a single school and the background to this process. The tone and focus of the discussion were primarily to clarify the objectives of the merger: simplifying management aimed at cost savings, while ensuring that schools for children with special educational needs remain accessible and their quality does not deteriorate. The consultees pointed out that seven schools – Kammeri School, Kiigemetsa School, Nurme School, Raikküla School, Urvaste School, Valga Jaanikese School and Ämmuste School – are located in different counties and that the current plan would be accelerated: applications for the headteacher in April, a new school by July 1st, and the new school operating from September 1st. An explanation was requested as to whether the savings have been computationally tested and are not erroneous, and how the school communities and pupils/parents will be involved in the preparation of decisions. The impact of inclusive education and various scenarios for consolidating pupils or the possibility of expanding the pupil capacity were also discussed. Questions about the future plans and premises for Kiigemetsa and Raikküla schools resonated in the discussion, as well as a need for clarity on the national political picture regarding the role of schools for children with special educational needs and inclusive education. Ultimately, emphasis was placed on the fact that no specific closures are planned and that more detailed information will be shared later if necessary.
Decisions Made 1
There was no agreement regarding the closing of doors or a sharp shift in schools – all seven educational institutions remain open and the goal is unified management and simplification of document management. The discussion concluded definitively with the statement that schools will safely continue their work and further steps for students and families will be offered with explanations. More detailed information and subsequent steps will be coordinated in the future with the Minister of Education and Research and the school communities.
Most Active Speaker
Tõnis Lukas – inheritance inquiry representative in the Riigikogu; position: other
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair announced that the Riigikogu's third interpellation would address the topic of merging schools for children with special needs, and asked Tõnis Lukas to present the interpellation, since Lukas was present.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Before the Riigikogu, Tõnis Lukas said that seven schools located in different counties are to be merged in an accelerated fashion under one administration, and the savings should come from the directors' payroll fund, but he raised questions about the reasons, the impact on students and teachers, and community involvement, and stressed that the quality of schools for children with special needs must not deteriorate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked and asked that the Minister of Education and Science, Kristina Kallas, come to answer the Riigikogu's interpellation on the floor.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Education and Science Minister Kristina Kallas announced that seven special-education schools will remain, but will be merged into a single legal entity to simplify documentation and governance, improve parents' access to information, and save about 300,000 euros per year, without closing any study places or reducing teaching, and this step follows OECD's 2022 recommendations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker Lauri Hussar thanks the minister and asks Aivar Kokkil to present questions.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk asks about the future of Kiigemetsa School in Siimusti: whether the building will remain in use, be repurposed, or have something else placed there, and what kinds of solutions are envisaged, taking into account the decreasing number of children, the school's regional need, and the difficulties faced by parents if children have to travel to another county.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that the number of children with special needs has stabilized and no sudden decline is forecast, but due to parents moving to Tallinn and Harju County, the need for school places there may increase, therefore the places of special schools are not being closed and seven places are kept across Estonia, because studying in small communities is more beneficial for these children, although it is expensive.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Tõnis Lukas onto the stage.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas said that Maarjamaa School needs thorough planning and preparatory work, and Kiigemetsa and Raikküla schools need new facilities, but it isn't yet clear whether they will be built by the Ministry of Education or the schools will be relocated.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
They thanked the questioner for the question and said that they currently do not have detailed information about the plans to relocate the rooms, and they will need to follow up on that.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt emphasised that the restructuring of schools is not intended to close them, but for better governance, and she asked for a substantive analysis of the work of these schools and whether the concerns have been identified, referring to Viljandi Ämmuste School, and stressing that inclusive education is not suitable for everyone and that for some children a smaller environment is needed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, asks Helmen Kütt to take the floor.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that the problem is not in the management of schools or in the quality of education, but that one simply needs to strengthen the management level and reduce duplication of documentation, because the schools are well managed and finding leaders in Estonia is currently difficult.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, asks Helir-Valdor Seeder to take the floor.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that the merging of schools has come as a surprise to local governments, participation is lacking and the information is insufficient, and the impact of having seven schools under a single administration does not seem clear, although after the merger the leading school will become Kammeri Kool, the schools will not disappear, but there is a shortage of staff and the leaders are doing substantive work, therefore he asks how to reassure or dismiss these concerns so that they are not true.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that seven state schools will be merged into a single legal entity with Kammeri School as the leading school, creating a flexible service based on a one-stop principle that improves accessibility for parents and children, without the current service deteriorating.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, turned to Mart Maastik and asked him.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik asks what benefit there is in the merger of seven schools located in four different counties, if there will be no financial savings, and how one leader could handle these questions across the four counties.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Education and Science Minister Kristina Kallas said that consolidating IT, information systems, accounting and document management services that are dispersed across seven locations under centralized management will save about 300,000 euros per year and increase efficiency, but teaching and upbringing work will remain at those locations and these services will be merged into a single location.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanked the minister, announced that there were no more questions, and opened negotiations, asking first that the representative of the questioners, Tõnis Lukas, return to the podium.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas stated that the consolidation of school management varies by county and is costly due to the distances, and that in the future the school governing council could be unified with parental representation at the core, but the role of special-needs schools and their space requirements for Raikküla and Kiigemetsa schools require attention and caution, to avoid uncertainty, and he affirmed that the high quality of the schools must continue.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Tõnis Lukas for a moment and asks whether extra time is needed.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas said that he could have finished it in five seconds, but he waited for the audience to give something.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman promises to give one more minute.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar says that he will add three more minutes, and then it will be correct.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
This excerpt in which Tõnis Lukas speaks hints that if something has already been set in motion, one should carry on with it, but the exact content remains unclear.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair invites questions and allows for three more minutes.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that although their schools are generally satisfied and provide unique conditions for children with special needs, the school leaders were not involved in planning the reform, and the planned layoffs create insecurity among the vulnerable target group; therefore, each of them should have separate discussions with the ministry, and the solutions should be carefully thought through.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar thanked, invited Helir-Valdor Seeder to the podium, and Seeder requested three minutes of extra time.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Emphatically stressed that the merger of seven special-needs schools into one under a single administration and the creation of a joint supervisory council require a thorough, holistic discussion, because the history and circumstances of the schools differ, and before moving forward with the reform there must be clear answers about the direction of national education policy, the role of local governments, funding, and the future of the school network.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks and asks his colleague Aivar Koka to take the floor in the Riigikogu.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk expresses concern about the future of Kiigemetsa School, noting that the school is dilapidated and the number of students has declined, and there is a need for clear solutions and funds from the state budget either for renovation or for building a new school, and he invites the minister and the local government to meet to discuss options and to avoid the insecurity of students and staff and the fear of the school closing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
There are no further requests to speak; the minister wishes to speak and is asked to take the floor at the Riigikogu's rostrum.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated from the Riigikogu rostrum that none of the seven schools would be closed as an educational institution, and that the changes are aimed at reducing the burden of management and bureaucracy and at promoting inclusive education, while emphasizing that the schools will not be merged with the Maarjamaa Collegium, and that funding for general education and teachers' workloads require solutions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks him and invites Helir-Valdor Seeder to the floor, noting that his position was voiced by the minister, and asks him to deliver a two-minute reply speech.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder expressed skepticism about the success of participatory budgeting, noting that school reorganizations create problems due to shortages of additional staff and skills, space shortages, and cultural differences, and he advocates focusing on specialized special schools, emphasizes avoiding the artificial centralization of management, and believes that a county-wide merger of schools (for example Kaareste, Ämmuste, and Lahmuse schools) would be more reasonable than merely cutting budget lines between the state and local government.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, closes the negotiations and ends the consideration of today's third agenda item.