Inquiry regarding the qualification requirements for youth workers (no. 745)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, Fifth Session, Plenary Session
Date: 2025-06-02 22:02
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 44
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 40m
AI Summaries: 44/44 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item concerned the questioning of the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, by members of the Riigikogu regarding the qualification requirements for youth workers. Reili Rand, speaking on behalf of the questioners, highlighted the sector’s concern regarding the Minister’s previous statements, which characterized the shaping of qualification requirements as excessive regulatory management, and asked about the future and the sustainable financing of the sector. Minister Kallas explained that the dispute within the ministry did not concern the establishment of the requirements themselves, but rather their content and, above all, the justification for spending a budget of €2.6 million on bureaucratic activities rather than activities directly aimed at young people (e.g., work groups, camps). The Minister affirmed support for the establishment of professional requirements for youth workers (level 5, secondary education), contrary to the initial proposal for a higher education requirement, which would have led to more than half of the current employees being dismissed. Kallas noted that currently, the corresponding profession is lacking for almost 1000 of the 1700 youth workers, making a transition period necessary, expected to last 3–5 years. There was also discussion about the financing of extracurricular education, during which the Minister emphasized the need to increase the autonomy of local governments, but acknowledged concerns regarding the guarantee of financing, citing the need to analyze funding based on the principal amount.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
Reili Rand, on behalf of the heirs, acted as speaker and negotiator, emphasizing the critical importance of qualifying and valuing youth workers. (muu)
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The fourth item on the Riigikogu's agenda concerns the interpellation submitted on April 8, 2025, regarding the qualification requirements for youth workers, and Reili Ranna will present as the rapporteur on behalf of the interpellators.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand emphasizes that although the ministry's official working group is currently developing qualification requirements for the youth sector, the minister's public comments on these issues caused concern. Consequently, she submitted five questions to the minister seeking clarification on the contradiction, specifically addressing the future and quality of the youth sector, the appreciation of youth workers, measures to promote an open labor market, and improving cooperation with representative organizations until 2035.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience and notes that we now all have a wonderful opportunity to hear from the esteemed Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas pointed out that the core issue of the interpellation revolved around the content of qualification requirements for youth workers and the utilization of 2.6 million euros. She added that while the coalition has reached a consensus on the professional standards, funds will also be channeled directly to young people, and qualifications can be obtained either through higher education or a professional examination.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The address began with thanks and an announcement that there were also a few questions, after which Züleyxa Izmailova started.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Züleyxa Izmailova inquired about when the professional qualification for youth workers would become mandatory and take effect, and what the transition period might look like, given that this measure was included in the coalition agreement.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that the results of the working group are expected in July 2025, based on which the youth sector will be reviewed as a whole, and qualifications will likely be established for nine employee profiles. This will be followed by an intent to draft legislation and an impact assessment, including the consideration of alternatives, and after that, we will move towards a single unified act, although local governments can already establish professional requirements, and Tallinn, Tartu, and Pärnu have already been anticipating them.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Madis Kallas to take the floor.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas stated that coach support in the sports field functions very well when criteria established by local municipalities are implemented alongside the state salary subsidy. He then asked why the transition period of four to five years is so lengthy, considering that based on just six months of work, there is a future possibility of granting a professional qualification to an individual.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that only about 700 youth workers currently hold a professional qualification, while approximately 1,000 need to obtain one. Given that their training and qualification assessments are only carried out for about 50 people annually, the scale of the task is huge, and the final deadline will require a transitional period, as achieving this within one or two years is simply not realistic.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Helmen Kütt to take the floor.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt thanked the Chair and the Minister, stating that the Minister had provided a very thorough answer and pointed out that secondary education is the first level—though apparently, it is actually level number 5.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
This remark is simply an affirmative answer.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt emphasizes that youth work is a great responsibility and a true art, which, in addition to further education, requires addressing mental health issues and acquiring social skills, and she questions whether Level 5 or secondary education is sufficient for this job.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that while the higher education requirement for youth workers cannot be implemented quickly, and universities currently lack the capacity to take on a large number of students, this goal will eventually be achieved. Furthermore, the Level 5 professional qualification will help standardize quality—this is an issue that will take ten years.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He turns to Anti Allas and asks.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas asks what the concrete steps would be to ensure that the minimum qualification level for a youth worker is higher education, a goal which, according to the minister, could be achieved within ten years.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that she does not favor enshrining the higher education requirement in law. However, given the general increase in the level of skills and competencies, and the necessary expertise required for youth work, we will soon reach a point where youth workers—who deal with at-risk youth, prevention, and fostering youth participation—will need to hold a higher education degree.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The presenter invites Jaak Aab to speak.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that the authority to regulate teachers' salaries should be aligned with the responsibility, arguing that the Ministry of Education lacks this specific authority, despite having the responsibility and the resources. Furthermore, she advocates for collective bargaining agreements and long-term accords within the education sector.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Now Lauri Läänemets has the opportunity to share his joy with everyone and to pose a question as well.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets expresses concern that if the funding for extracurricular activities is placed into a state common fund, there is no certainty that the money will actually reach and remain dedicated to those activities, given the ongoing cuts by the state and local governments.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, stated that funding guarantees cannot be established, but a comprehensive analysis is planned regarding the financing options for hobby education, including the implementation of a per capita funding model (such as the one used in Iceland). It was also agreed that should funds remain in the Ministry of Education’s budget, the conditions must be clarified, specifically regarding Estonian-language support and its allocation to the Narva and Kohtla-Järve regions. Additionally, a larger potential reform will be analyzed, which would allow parents greater control over how the funds are utilized.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invited Riina Sikkut to the stage.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasized that collective agreements functioning in healthcare yield good results, and the same success could be replicated in education. She also presented two topics concerning youth work: project-based funding, and the risks involved if all responsibility and financing are left to local governments, which may differ in terms of capacity and priorities.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas emphasizes that decision-making must be as close to the individual as possible. Therefore, funding for hobby education and youth work must be maintained at the local government level, and their financial autonomy should be increased. This is because decisions made at the state level do not improve the sector, and a large portion of the funding is project-based and comes from the European Union.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Vladimir Arhipov to the stage.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov voiced concerns that the “analysis” being used by local authorities could simply be a pretext for cutting funding. He also questioned whether language learning and hobby education would be preserved, and if further cuts were imminent.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
We stressed that the objective is Estonian-language hobby education, not merely language learning, and that children in Narva are not always able to access Estonian-language extracurricular activities. Nevertheless, we are not planning any further cuts to the funding of hobby education beyond those already made.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech begins by inviting Reili Rand to the stage.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand raised concerns that extracurricular activities and youth work are excessively reliant on local government budgets and project-based funding, and recommended that the ministry organize a nationwide recognition event for youth workers so that their work remains visible even when funding is unstable.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expressed his thanks in the speech.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand asks how to emphasize it more verbally.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
We have been organizing the Youth Worker Appreciation Gala for years, and it takes place every year.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is asked to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She is asking about the Level 5 professional qualification requirement, which was established under the coalition agreement, and is requesting data on how many current youth workers lack this qualification, and whether this might lead to an exodus from the field.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that we have 1,700 youth workers, and approximately 1,000 of them lack the corresponding professional qualification. The transition period should be three to five years, and she does not support requiring higher education for youth workers, as this would exclude a large portion of the current workforce from the labor market.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the transition to Estonian-language instruction must happen via Estonian-language hobby education, and that this process must begin in schools, even in areas where the children are predominantly from non-Estonian speaking families. He then asks about Ida-Viru, specifically whether this aspect has been taken into account and what the current picture is there, as well as whether a language requirement will be established for the pedagogical staff of youth and children's camps.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Tõnis Lukas to speak.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that supervision of extracurricular education was not carried out, but based on information from school principals, some extracurricular education is also available in Estonian. This is insufficient, and the scope of language instruction should be increased so that Estonian-language education becomes more widespread. Schools are moving toward Estonian-language extracurricular activities, but a shortage of teachers limits broader implementation. The working group proposes establishing an Estonian language proficiency requirement for every profile in the youth and camps sector, although current requirements in the youth sector only apply to six-day camps, and there are no qualification requirements for shorter camps.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expresses his thanks, announces that the questions have concluded, opens the debate, invites Reili Rand, and requests an additional eight minutes of time.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Youth work must be professional, sustainable, and fairly compensated. Furthermore, the state and local governments responsible for this must ensure clear qualification requirements, stable funding, and equal conditions so that young people can receive safe and developmental support.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Thank you very much to everyone. There are no further requests to speak, and the consideration of this agenda item is now concluded.