Educational opportunities in line with the needs of entrepreneurship.
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-06-04 16:35
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 8m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today, the ninth question concerning the alignment of educational opportunities with the needs of entrepreneurship was addressed. The question was posed by Member of the Riigikogu Vladimir Arhipov to Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas, and the focus was on the correspondence of training opportunities for teachers and entrepreneurs with the needs of the labor market. Arhipov's message emphasized that the state’s education system produces thousands of diplomas, but in many cases there is a lack of alignment with the demands of the labor market, and these shortages are particularly evident in the fields of engineering and technology. He stressed the need for swift and effective cooperation to ensure that graduates are undoubtedly competitive, and that Estonia does not need to rely on large immigration quotas.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Vladimir Arhipov (Center Party) – an opposition member of the Riigikogu.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov is posing a question to Kristina Kallas, the Minister of Education and Research, regarding how educational opportunities can be aligned with the needs of the business sector.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov highlights that the Estonian education system is producing degrees that do not match the needs of the labor market. He argues that vocational and applied higher education must become a priority to address the shortage of engineers and technicians and thereby reduce the need to increase immigration quotas.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that the goal is to increase the proportion of people with higher education and align vocational education with the labor force needs identified by OSKA, by reducing the number of places in specialties where there is no labor shortage and significantly increasing them where the shortage is high. Furthermore, they will launch 13 new curricula in vocational secondary education—i.e., applied gymnasiums—starting September 1, 2025.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks and calls upon Vladimir Arkhipov to ask a clarifying question.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov stresses that Estonia has hundreds of thousands of working-age people whose skills do not meet the demands of the labor market and who are seeking retraining. He notes that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (Töötukassa) could channel approximately 4,000 of the 60,000 unemployed individuals into effective retraining programs to avoid the need for increasing quotas. Simultaneously, he raises questions about the nature of the cooperation with Töötukassa and whether they maintain close ties with the Ministry of Education.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that the commissioning of adult retraining and further education is handled in two ways through Töötukassa (Unemployment Insurance Fund) counselors, and that decisions should be based on the adult PISA study, focusing on core skills such as mathematical literacy, adaptive problem-solving, technology use skills, and digital competence, in order to meet the needs of the labor market.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the speaker and announced that if no one else had an additional question, Vladimir Arhipov could also ask one.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He is asking whether the ministry has a plan to create the conditions necessary for Estonia to rely solely on its own workforce and not be dependent on people brought in from abroad.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that even if the vocational education reform managed to add around 1,200 young people to the pool of quality skilled labor annually, the shortage of skilled labor would still remain significant, and since the economy's growth potential outstrips its human resources, this is simply not enough for Estonia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gives thanks and concludes the consideration of today's ninth item.