Inquiry regarding the school network (no. 760)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, Fifth Session, Plenary Session
Date: 2025-06-02 22:42
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 31
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 43m
AI Summaries: 31/31 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Under agenda item five, the organization of the school network and the state’s role in upper secondary education were discussed. The inquiry was prepared by members of the Riigikogu: Tõnis Lukas, Helir-Valdor Seedr, Andres Metsoja, Riina Solman, and Priit Sibul, and they asked for a broader picture of changes to the school network, focusing on the differentiation of upper secondary schools from basic schools, and how these changes affect local governments and the content of education. The agenda included clarifying the timelines for the planned reform (anticipated for 2035) and what mechanisms are desired: administrative contracts, the division of ownership and responsibility for buildings, and the state’s role in organizing schools. Furthermore, the need was raised to gain a clear picture of the cost of maintaining already small upper secondary schools, and what organizational options might offer stability and quality in both rural areas and large counties. The second part focused on previous promises regarding salary increases and the replenishment of teachers, and how taking responsibility for schools at the state level affects the level of vocational and applied higher education and the general labor market.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made. The discussion continues, and further steps involve an analysis of the school network and clarification of administrative agreements and funding models with local governments.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa), who presented the inquiry as the presenter and guided the flow of questions and discussion. His position of activity at the forefront of the Riigikogu is better suited (right-wing/opposition leadership style), clearly channeling the inquiry through a factional perspective and emphasizing demographic and regional aspects of the school network reform.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu has reached the fifth item on the agenda, and Interpellation No. 760 concerning the school network, submitted on April 23, 2025, is requested to be introduced by Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas stressed that while the administration of basic schools will remain with local municipalities during the school network reforms, the organization of gymnasiums and vocational gymnasiums, along with the responsibility for their content, will be transferred to the state (with a target date of 2035). Furthermore, the Isamaa faction submitted six questions to the minister to clarify what the separation of gymnasiums from basic schools will mean for local governments and for the substantive educational process, and why the establishment of state gymnasiums has been systematically unsuccessful.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu requests Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas to answer the questions from the interpellators.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas announced that during the first half of 2024, 18 meetings were held with local governments regarding the future plans for maintaining small upper secondary schools; based on the results of these meetings, the transition of the school network to the state-managed level is being planned via administrative agreements through state gymnasiums and education centers, while avoiding the takeover of building ownership and taking into account the demographic forecasts for 2035. Specific decisions have been made in Maardu, Mustvee, and Tapa rural municipality, while the remaining local governments are assessing their needs, and in rural areas, analysts are examining the combination of post-basic school study places and upper secondary schools; meanwhile, fulfilling the promise of teacher salary increases will not result in savings for the state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks the floor and announces that there is one question, or rather two, and Tõnis Lukas begins.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas is asking which model the state will use to take over the upper secondary schools—whether through negotiation or by force of law—and how the state intends to take over historical gymnasiums in Tartu and Tallinn, such as Treffner, Reaalkool, and Gustav Adolf Grammar School.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas explained that Treffner is a pure gymnasium with its own building and assets, while Reaalkool is a full-cycle school spanning grades 1 through 12. She noted that the state cannot seize the school by force; rather, solutions must be agreed upon through negotiations, which will determine which schools and study places are transferred to the state or returned to local municipalities. Furthermore, local municipalities are responsible for basic education and pre-school education. If the state is prepared to provide gymnasium education itself by 2035, it will no longer be obligated to finance a gymnasium maintained by a local municipality.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech is simply calling Riina Solman to the stage.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes the school network changes and child benefit cuts being implemented in the name of demography, citing the closure of Toila Gymnasium as an example. She further emphasizes that promoting Estonian-language education in Ida-Viru County must be a priority, given that the proportion of Estonians is decreasing and only three local governments currently have an Estonian majority.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks Riina.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman asks why you are fighting against the school community when they want to keep the school open, and reminds [us] that you personally visited Pärnu County and fought for the preservation of that school.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stressed that she has not advocated for the closure of six-grade basic schools, noting that it is crucial to maintain small, local schools and their small class sizes. Conversely, she stated that upper secondary schools (gymnasiums) do not need to be located close to home, as their primary role is ensuring educational quality and preparing students for university.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi addresses Madis Kallas and asks him.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas is asking the minister whether there are so few places available at the Saaremaa State Gymnasium, and the number of graduates is so high, that the talks of closing the Orissaare Gymnasium should be forgotten, at least for the time being.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that no negotiations have been held with Saaremaa regarding the closure of Orissaare Gymnasium. They intend to discuss with the Saaremaa Municipality the transfer of the adult gymnasium to the state so that the 160 basic school graduates would have more choices in vocational education centers and better learning opportunities after basic school, because there are not enough study places for all basic school graduates.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt asks how the reorganization of the seven state institutions managed by the Ministry of Education and Research into a new school, Maarjamaa State School, is progressing, and whether people's jobs will be retained or if they will be offered other opportunities.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Helmen Kütt to speak.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Thanks for the question—compared to what I spoke about last, roughly a month ago, I don't have any more precise data on this, and I haven't directly addressed this topic in the interim.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi requested that Anti Allas be granted the floor.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas commended the establishment of state secondary schools in county centers, pointing out that this is crucial from a regional policy perspective and functions effectively in his home area. He then inquired about the subsequent steps, specifically whether student housing or other solutions could help retain students locally and accelerate the development of schools in county centers.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas said that mobility in upper secondary schools is growing, and regional state gymnasiums must develop a strong specialized profile, offering 30% of the curriculum as elective courses, along with modules in national defense, IT, engineering, and sports tracks, so that a state gymnasium exists in each of Estonia's four regions where young people can specialize.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Jaak Valge is now taking the floor.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge stressed the necessity of a flexible debate format and inquired how streamlining the school network and bringing secondary education under state control would help balance the share of university education versus applied higher education and vocational training with the demands of the labor market.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that the government plans to boost the role of applied secondary schools and vocational training, shifting the distribution of post-basic school study places over the next ten years to favor approximately 60% for traditional gymnasiums and 40% for the applied sector. This will be achieved by creating more study places and forging a strong connection with universities of applied sciences, ensuring that the vocational skills acquired allow students the opportunity to continue their education in applied higher education programs.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the honorable Minister, announces that there are no further questions, opens the debate, and invites Tõnis Lukas to take the floor.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that major changes to the school network require a firm timetable, consultation with local governments, and an administrative agreement model. This framework is necessary to decide which schools will remain and how the takeovers will be executed, thereby ensuring parental choice and the continuation of historical gymnasiums.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi confirms that three extra minutes will be granted.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas warns that the state takeover and planning of schools, which fails to take into account local agreements and the regional context, will create regional policy problems and a population drain, thereby jeopardizing the sustainability of both general education and vocational training.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks you sincerely.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She stresses that everything needs to be carefully considered and wishes success to the Ministry of Education and Research.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi offers his thanks and concludes the discussions.