Education policy
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, sixth sitting, press briefing.
Date: 2025-09-17 16:13
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 17
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 6m
AI Summaries: 17/17 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The current sixth question concerned Hiiumaa’s education policy and focused primarily on the future connection between upper secondary school and vocational school, the role of local community involvement, and the impact of preserving cultural values, such as Suuremõisa Manor. The discussion raised concerns about the lack of opinions and participation from the local population in decision-making, as well as questions regarding the availability of ministers and the effectiveness of coordination circles. Furthermore, it was highlighted that influential decisions have been made in a way that may not take the island’s unique characteristics into account, and that the cooperation and sustainability of funding models between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education needs clarification.
The second part pointed out that vocational school and vocational education require a sustainable and appropriate solution within the context, and local entrepreneurs have a great interest, but the process remains confusing and lacks good cooperation. The commission’s role and the minister’s role were discussed, and all participants were interested in finding a balance between the quality of education, community needs, and the preservation of cultural values. The session concluded with the note that the consideration of the sixth question was completed and no decisions were made.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made at this session.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was the participant using the identifier DvOgSs1IRCw; their position is other (political orientation is not clearly defined from the text). They spoke both in the form of questions and answers and carried the main discussion towards the topic of Hiiumaa’s education policy, emphasizing the importance of community involvement, ensuring the preservation of the upper secondary school, and the sustainable funding of the vocational school.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar introduced the sixth item on the agenda, which concerned education policy and had been submitted to Prime Minister Kristen Michal by Riigikogu member Reili Rand, subsequently giving the floor to Rand.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman continues and announces that the sixth question, on the topic of education policy, is addressed to Prime Minister Kristen Michal and will be presented by Riigikogu member Reili Rand.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand is accusing the government and the Reform Party of failing to involve local communities in decisions regarding the future of education in Hiiumaa. She also stresses her opposition to merging the gymnasium and the vocational school, and expresses concern over the culturally significant future of Suuremõisa Manor.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand expresses profound concern and indignation over the ongoing vocational education reform in Hiiumaa, which is dismantling a functioning education system and a strong gymnasium. She emphasizes that the government and the Reform Party are making decisions about merging schools without consulting the local community, despite the unequivocal opposition of Hiiumaa residents. Furthermore, she demands explanations from the Prime Minister as to why the future of Hiiumaa's education is being decided without providing answers or taking the local population into account.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that the Hiiumaa Gymnasium would be preserved, referencing his summer promise made on the island and the identical stance of the Minister of Education. He also expressed surprise that the question was being directed to him rather than to the directly available Minister of Education.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed while on Hiiumaa that the Hiiumaa Gymnasium will remain open, and stressed that the Minister of Education is accessible and can be asked any and all questions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gives his thanks and announces that his colleague Tiit Maran will pose the follow-up question.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran raises the issue of preserving the Suuremõisa vocational school, emphasizing its importance to Hiiumaa's entrepreneurs and culture, but criticizes the Ministry of Education's actions. He notes that the Ministry ignored the unanimous position of the Culture Committee—that the developments surrounding the school are unacceptable—and made decisions prior to the scheduled autumn discussion, thereby calling into question the role of committees and the importance of their decisions in guiding ministerial activities.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran emphasized the crucial role of Hiiumaa, and specifically the Suuremõisa vocational school, for entrepreneurs. He criticized the mechanistic approach being taken toward vocational education and highlighted the culture committee's promise to secure sustainable funding and revisit the issue in the autumn. However, the process involving the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture has moved forward, while the discussion within the Ministry of Culture has stalled. This raises the question of whether the committee’s decisions actually carry any weight from the prime minister's point of view.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that commissions have a role.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair thanked them and asked Reili Rand to pose a clarifying question.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offered his thanks and then gave the floor to Reili Ranna so she could ask her clarifying question.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand accuses the Prime Minister, stating that his assurance regarding the preservation of high school education in Hiiumaa is merely a rhetorical trick, as the merging of schools and the name change damages the community's identity. Furthermore, she finds that the government considers the strong opposition from Hiiumaa residents to this step to be nothing more than trivial fine-tuning, ignoring the questions and objections raised by the community.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand notes that the preservation of the Hiiumaa Gymnasium is merely the Prime Minister's rhetoric, and in reality, the merger of the two schools will change the school's name and identity, regarding which the Hiiumaa community has submitted questions and objections, and she hopes to receive answers from the government. At the same time, she emphasizes that the message intended for the islanders is simple — the merger of the gymnasium and the vocational school — and the opposition will not stop it.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal denies having spoken about "fine-tuning" or the opposition from Hiiumaa residents. He confirms that high school education will be maintained for Hiiumaa, that the community's opinion will be considered when selecting the name, and expresses clear support for Hiiumaa.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal sharply rejected the claims attributed to her regarding education in Hiiumaa, denying the use of the words "fine-tuning" and suggesting that the questioner's narrative sounded like a conspiracy theory. She asserted, on the contrary, that she supports Hiiumaa, promising the preservation of gymnasium education and that the community's position would be taken into account when choosing the name.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks everyone and announces that the consideration of today's sixth item is concluded.