Draft law amending the Basic Education and Upper Secondary Education Act and the Vocational Education Institutions Act (director certification and teacher career model) (653 SE) - first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-06-18 17:34
Total Speeches: 102
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 8m
AI Summaries: 102/102 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the first reading of Draft Act 653, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act and the Vocational Educational Institutions Act (Certification of Principals and Teacher Career Model). Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas introduced the draft, which aims to improve career opportunities for teachers and raise the quality of school management. According to the draft, a four-tier career model will be established (starting teacher, teacher, senior teacher, master teacher), and corresponding salary coefficients for the years 2026–2028 (1.0; 1.0; 1.1; 1.3) will be implemented. The duration of fixed-term employment contracts for teachers studying in teacher training programs will also be extended to three years. A significant change is the introduction of a certification system for school principals after every five years of employment; the certification committee will consist of representatives of the school maintainer and the Estonian Association of School Leaders. The additional financial need resulting from these changes is 9.8 million euros for general education and 3.7 million euros for vocational education in 2026.
During the debate, several questions were raised, particularly concerning the status and salary guarantees of unqualified teachers, as the legislative amendment removes the school maintainer's direct obligation to pay them the national minimum rate. The Minister clarified that the funding system will not change, but the goal is to motivate teachers without professional qualifications to acquire them. The public disclosure of principals' certification decisions and the support for the education agreement among local governments were also discussed. Liina Kersna, Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Committee, proposed concluding the first reading, noting that the committee will continue discussions regarding support for unqualified teachers.
Decisions Made 2
The first reading of Bill 653 was concluded.
The deadline for the submission of amendments was set as July 4, 2024, at 16:00.
Most Active Speaker
Liina Kersna (Reform Party Faction) was an active questioner, presented the Culture Committee's report, and participated in the negotiations, emphasizing the need to support teachers without formal qualifications. (better)
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced the commencement of the second item on the agenda and introduced the first reading of Draft Bill 653, which concerns amending the Basic School and Gymnasium Act and the Vocational Educational Institutions Act, and includes the attestation of principals and a career model for teachers. He then invited the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, to be the rapporteur.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas is introducing a draft bill that establishes a four-tier career model for teachers and a unified minimum salary rate for all teachers (including vocational education). The bill also implements a certification system for school leaders and a procedure for development interviews, aiming to improve teachers’ professional development and the quality of school management starting in 2026.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas introduced the draft bill for the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act and the Vocational Educational Institutions Act. The primary objective of this legislation is to enhance the quality of education by creating a four-tiered career model for teachers, featuring differentiated salary rates (ranging from starting teacher up to master teacher), and by implementing a certification system for school leaders to support their professional development and improve the standard of school management.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Vice-Chair thanks [the previous speaker/audience] and invites Signe Kivi to take the floor to ask a few questions.
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Although the bill has been processed in broad agreement within the Culture Committee, a letter from several organizations highlights the concern that the 4,210 unqualified teachers are not a problem but a solution, and that upon the bill's entry into force, they would not be eligible for the teachers' minimum wage. They also ask whether the minister shares their concern.
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Signe Kivi raises a concern, based on a letter from several educational organizations (including the Teachers’ Union and Youth to School), that although over 4,000 unqualified teachers are valuable to schools, the draft bill currently under consideration would result in their removal from the pool of recipients of the teachers’ minimum salary, and she asks the minister if he shares this concern.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience.
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speech focuses on the question of what your answer would be.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explained that teachers without professional qualifications lack the motivation to apply for them because they are paid the same minimum rate as qualified teachers. Therefore, the goal is to amend the law so that the school operator no longer has a direct obligation to pay them the minimum rate, thereby compelling them to take the professional examination and acquire the teaching qualification.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas emphasized that the current system maintains the same minimum salary for all teachers, and the funding paid to the school operator will not change, but the goal is for teachers without a professional qualification to strive for the professional exam and obtain their teaching qualification.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called Margit Sutrop.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop asks about the public disclosure of the certification results for school leaders: whether only the fact that someone has been certified will be published, or also the content of the results, and what happens next—where and how the results will be announced.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that the result of the director's attestation must be a public decision known to everyone, and if they are not attested, reasons must be provided, but the scope of the detailed decision to be made public will be determined by a separate regulation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Liina Kersna to come forward and deliver her speech.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna stressed that the teachers' career model had been agreed upon through the education agreement, and asked what proposal the working group had put forward and whether a beginning teacher could already be considered a qualified teacher.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
This working group proposed during the education agreement negotiations that starting teachers must meet the required qualifications.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She raises the question of who makes up the directors' certification committee and who serves as its members, because the answers were not found in the draft bill.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The commission must have at least four members. Two of these are appointed by the Estonian Association of School Heads, and two by the school's maintainer.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi addressed Heljo Pikhof and asked her to do something.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof highlighted that the funding model for Estonian schools fails to adequately consider the socio-economic background of children. Consequently, schools achieving better results tend to cluster around wealthier parents, exacerbating inequality. She then asked the minister what specific changes are planned regarding the differentiation of this funding.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Estonian funding model is based on local school maintainers, and the state provides capitation funding coupled with a regional coefficient. This coefficient factors in the specific characteristics of regional economic development, meaning the per-student allocation for students in rural areas is higher than that for students in the city of Tallinn.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Aleksei Yevgrafov to the stage.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He noted that, according to the draft legislation, the minister responsible for the sector shall establish by regulation the formation of the attestation committee and the conditions and procedure for the director's attestation, and requested a more detailed explanation of what those conditions are.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explained the composition of the school principals' attestation committee, which includes two representatives from the Estonian School Leaders' Association and two from the school's maintainer, specifying that the committee is convened during the principal's fifth year of employment and that the school maintainer is responsible for organizing its work consistently and comparably.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that the attestation committee will consist of two representatives from the Estonian School Leaders' Association and two representatives from the school's governing body. It must be convened upon the completion of the fifth year of employment (with exceptions for parental leave). Furthermore, the school's governing body is responsible for ensuring that the committee's decision-making and procedural execution are consistent, making the work of various committees mutually comparable.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi turned to Anti Allas and said, "Please."
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas thanked the chair and the minister, and then asked what the main problems were after the education agreement was signed, and whether those issues have already been addressed by the draft legislation. He noted that only nine out of 79 local governments have actually signed the document.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas expresses concern about the low level of support for the education agreement among local municipalities, noting that only nine out of 79 signed the document. He asks the minister to explain what the main problems and unresolved issues were that deterred the majority of the municipalities, and whether the current draft bill alleviates these shortcomings.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas said that local governments did not join the education agreement mainly due to workload and working conditions, and not because of the career model, even though an agreement had been reached regarding the senior teacher career level, and the reason lay in other points of the agreement that were discussed.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas clarifies that local governments opted out of the education agreement not because of the career model, but rather due to points concerning teachers' workload and working conditions, such as 21 contact hours and the limit of 24 students per class, which was further complicated by political opposition.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Urve Tiidus to take the floor.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He asks that the draft bill be viewed from a teacher's perspective, and that they explain what would motivate and bring joy to the teacher if this bill ever finds support in the chamber.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, discussed a career model where a starting teacher receives clear support and dedicates at least 25% of their working time to professional development, supported by a mentor. Generally, they should not teach in classes with children with special needs or in combined classes. The career path continues to the levels of senior teacher and master teacher, similar to the academic career model. However, Estonia currently lacks a national general career model, although some schools have already implemented this structure.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas unveiled a new, academic-style career model for teachers. This model establishes clear professional stages (starting, senior, master) and particularly emphasizes systematic support for new teachers—including mentorship, 25% dedicated development time, and simpler assignments. This initiative aims to provide the clear pathway for professional growth and recognition of competencies that is currently lacking in Estonia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Liina Kersna to take the floor.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna emphasized that 25% of a starting teacher’s working time should be spent on self-development and that they must have a mentor. She highlighted that starting teachers without qualifications require the same support as qualified teachers, referred to a proposal dated April 30, 2024, suggesting that a starting unqualified teacher should also be counted as a starting teacher, and inquired when this professional qualifications act would reach the Riigikogu.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that the Professional Qualifications Act will take slightly longer and is expected to enter into force around June 1, 2026. This represents roughly a six-month delay compared to the legislation currently being debated.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Education and Research Minister Kristina Kallas explains that the legislative process for the draft Professional Qualifications Act is taking longer than anticipated because changes to the professional standards for other fields also need to be incorporated. As a result, the bill is now expected to reach the Riigikogu (Parliament) this autumn and enter into force on June 1, 2026, creating a six-month delay compared to the original plan.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev points out that roughly a quarter of first-time teachers are inexperienced (perhaps unqualified) and quickly leave the school. He then asks whether a more substantial salary could serve as an additional incentive to keep them from quitting.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stresses that while all teachers deserve better salaries, the biggest flaw in the current system is the complete lack of motivation to pursue the teaching profession. This is because both working conditions and the education grant paid to local municipalities are identical, regardless of a teacher's qualifications. Furthermore, she criticizes the proposal to pay an unqualified career changer more than a qualified teacher, pointing out that the funding system itself will not be changed by this amendment.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stressed that a decent salary must be paid to all teachers and people need to be motivated to pursue a teaching career. However, the funding system will not be changed, meaning local governments will receive the same state minimum funding per teacher, regardless of their qualifications.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof stated that educational inequality is not inevitable and can be alleviated through targeted policy, citing the practices of the Nordic countries, Canada, and Ireland. She emphasized that ignoring socioeconomic background does not reduce inequality—it only increases it—and she questioned why Estonia is not implementing the equalization mechanisms linked to the current bill.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Heljo Pikhof to take the floor.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stressed that Estonia utilizes a differentiated education support system. This system accounts for the socio-economic status and the actual costs of maintaining a school via a regional coefficient. As a result, the size of the per-capita grant varies considerably, spanning from 1,800 euros in Tallinn up to 19,000 euros per child on Ruhnu Island.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explains that a regional coefficient is used when calculating education support, which takes into account the socio-economic situation of the area. This is why the support payments vary: the per-capita allowance is about 1,800 euros per child in Tallinn, about 4,000 euros in some regions, and up to 19,000 euros per child on Ruhnu island, because the costs of running a school there are significantly higher.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a short request: Madis Kallas, please take the floor.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas considers the draft bill concerning the certification and employment of teachers generally welcome, but he raises a question regarding the salary conditions for unqualified teachers. He wants to know what rights the local municipality has when paying out the funds and whether the school maintainer can theoretically pay them only the Estonian minimum wage.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
I welcome the bill concerning attestation and easier access to the teaching profession, but I raise a question regarding the rights of local governments when allocating funds, and whether the school operator can theoretically pay an unqualified teacher the Estonian minimum wage.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas highlights concerns regarding school operators' ability to pay the minimum wage and insists that all teachers continue to receive the agreed-upon minimum salary.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Anti Allast to speak.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas inquired whether joining the education agreement would affect the receipt of the differentiation fund, stressing the slight apprehension among local governments and the necessity of being one hundred percent certain.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas says that it won't affect anything.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker invited Züleyxa Izmailova to take the floor.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
There is talk of a severe shortage of mathematics and physics teachers and the unattractive nature of their salaries, and the question is being asked how a career model for teachers could reduce this shortage.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The career model is not intended to alleviate the shortage of teachers in a specific subject area, but master teachers and didacticians are entitled to a 30% higher salary rate, and this applies to all specialties, not just one narrow subject area.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Jaak Aab to speak.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab pointed out that local governments are skeptical regarding the financing of the career model. This is because the salary subsidies provided by the differentiation fund are insufficient for implementing the model across the entire municipality. Furthermore, calculations suggest that there can only be one master teacher and a couple of subsequent levels, which ultimately raises the question of whether the funding is sufficient.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas confirmed that the sufficiency has been checked: Estonia currently has 41 master teachers (4 in vocational education and 37 in general education), and even if their number increases to just over 100, the sum allocated to the school operator from the differentiation fund will significantly surpass that amount.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman invites Tanel Kiik to the stage.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik is asking the Minister of Education for a position on abolishing the kindergarten fee—specifically, whether this should be implemented nationwide or only in the capital, considering educational inequality.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that although the local government can waive the kindergarten fee, the issue is not the price but the availability of kindergarten spots. Furthermore, making the fee zero will push out the private sector and increase the shortage of places. Therefore, the focus must be on quality and accessibility, not the price, because spots in Tallinn are already insufficiently available.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This address is merely a request to invite Madis Kallas to speak.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas emphasizes the importance of valuing the teaching profession and raises the question of whether the proportion of unqualified teachers shouldn't be higher in smaller or more remote schools, considering that salaries are higher in Tallinn and finding teachers there is typically easier.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas emphasizes that the proportion of teachers who do not meet qualification requirements is higher in cities than in rural areas, because the number of students and the influx of Ukrainian children towards Tallinn and Harju County have grown. She calls upon school operators and local municipalities to pay all teachers at least the minimum salary and to support them in acquiring qualifications and passing the teacher professional examination, including professional development and portfolio compilation.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas, citing statistical data, refutes the claim that there are more unqualified teachers in rural areas. She emphasizes that, conversely, their proportion is actually higher in Tallinn and Harju County, largely due to the rapid influx of children from Ukraine. She further stresses that school operators must pay the minimum salary floor to all teachers, regardless of their qualifications, and must support those who lack professional certification in obtaining it, as the validation of teaching qualifications and competencies is critically important.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas noted that although the Minister of Education and Research worked hard to find funding for the increase in teachers' salaries, the government and the prime minister were often unwilling to take responsibility. Now, the teachers' minimum salary has been fixed by a government regulation. A discussion is currently underway regarding whether the salary coefficient for career levels could also be confirmed at the level of a government regulation, which would result in the allocation of the teachers' salary fund within the state budget.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Tõnis Lukas to speak.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Currently, the pay rates for senior teachers and master teachers for the years 2026–2028 have been agreed upon, coupled with an increase in the differentiation fund. These rates will remain in effect until 2028. Following that, the next government will decide whether new rates will be negotiated.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets supports the direction of the draft bill and the motivation of teachers through a qualification-based salary scale, but he is seeking clarification from the minister as to why the amendment permits paying unqualified teachers less than the national minimum. He is also concerned that this policy could lead to a shortage of new teachers.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets said that the direction of the draft bill is correct and the principles must be approved. He supported improving teacher motivation and the acquisition of qualifications, but raised two questions: why are teachers without qualifications paid the minimum wage, when the legislative amendment might allow paying even less than the national minimum wage, and is it nationally anticipated that there will not be enough new teachers in schools?
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked Lauri Läänemets to come onto the stage.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stresses that while the minimum teacher salary is currently guaranteed to both qualified and unqualified staff—a situation that stifles motivation to obtain professional certification—a new career progression system is vital. This system is needed to establish clear conditions for supporting novice teachers and to motivate unqualified personnel to gain qualifications, thereby ensuring they receive the minimum salary stipulated by law.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas emphasizes that the minimum salary rate for teachers must be guaranteed by law, but the current system grants the same minimum rate to both teachers who meet the qualification requirements and those who do not. Furthermore, when combined with the senior and master teacher levels established by ministerial regulations, this system fails to incentivize the acquisition of qualifications, which is why a clear career structure and corresponding support measures are needed.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that salary coefficients should be confirmed at the level of a government regulation, which is higher than a ministerial regulation. He notes that the agreement lacks a formal government decision and asks whether this point is fixed in the coalition agreement and whether the government has confirmed the agreement. If the agreement is approved for the next year by a government protocol decision and linked to the differentiation fund, the problem could be resolved.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
During the address, Tõnis Lukas is asked to speak.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas’s speech discusses whether the new government also has approval.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas confirms that the coalition agreement specifies both the raising of the differentiation fund and the career steps agreed upon in the education agreement, and notes that although the proposal to elevate the regulation of naming career steps and salary coefficients from the level of a ministerial regulation to the level of a government regulation is worth discussing, she does not see a major substantive difference in it.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The coalition agreement establishes both the differentiation fund and the career grades. If there is a proposal to elevate the designation of career grades and the corresponding salary coefficients from the level of a ministerial regulation to the level of a government regulation, that is certainly a point for discussion, but I don't see a major difference here.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets said that people should be paid more for higher qualifications and a heavier workload; currently, teachers in Ida-Virumaa are being paid a higher salary due to the transition to Estonian-language education, and he asked whether this has proven worthwhile and if the same scheme could be implemented in other regions of Estonia in case of a teacher shortage.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Lauri Läänemets to speak.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that over 500 teachers have taken jobs in Ida-Virumaa because of the higher salaries offered there. However, the teacher shortage is regional, primarily affecting the largest cities and high schools. She added that a problem could emerge in rural areas in the long term, which is why consideration should be given to introducing a salary coefficient for STEM subject teachers, given the high competition for educators in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and geography.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Minister, states that there are no further questions, and adds that the priorities and decisions adopted by the leading committee will be presented by Liina Kersna, Chairman of the Culture Committee.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Culture Committee discussed amendments to the Basic School and Upper Secondary School Act, addressed the formation of the attestation committee, and issues concerning development discussions and the evaluation of the school principal. Furthermore, the committee decided to submit the draft bill to the plenary session on June 17, conclude the first reading, and appoint Liina Kersna as the rapporteur.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna provided an overview of the Culture Committee session, where changes to the Basic School and Upper Secondary School Act were thoroughly discussed. The discussion focused primarily on the formation of the school principals' certification committee and the consequences of certification, emphasizing that failure to be certified gives the school operator the option, but not the obligation, to terminate the contract. The public nature of certification decisions was also addressed in the context of personal data protection, and a proposal was made to include the draft bill on the plenary session agenda for June 17.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks Liina, states that there are no questions, opens the floor for debate, and invites Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev acknowledges that the draft bill contains necessary and logical aspects, such as higher pay for teachers with higher qualifications, but emphasizes that several authoritative organizations, led by the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities, oppose its adoption in its current form, and criticizes the draft bill's shortcomings in motivating novice teachers.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev noted that while the underlying idea of the bill—that better qualified educators should earn higher salaries—is logical, the proposal in its current form is facing significant resistance from representatives of local school administrators, chiefly the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities. Furthermore, it remains debatable whether sufficient motivation is being offered to teachers just starting out.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech was exceedingly brief and consisted only of the word "Minute."
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev voiced concern regarding the draft legislation's failure to address the issue of low teacher wages and difficult working conditions, a situation that leads to high turnover among unqualified novice teachers. He also sharply criticized the unnecessary and unfair five-year certification requirement imposed on school leaders. However, he stated that the faction would not propose rejecting the bill outright, but would instead submit amendments and decide on its final support at a later date.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev emphasizes that while the collective agreement is welcome, the draft bill fails to resolve issues concerning teachers' salaries, working conditions, and the attestation of school principals. He noted that his faction did not directly reject the bill; instead, they will propose amendments and decide later whether to continue supporting it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks everyone and, on behalf of the Reform Party faction, invites Liina Kersna to begin her address.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna, within the framework of the discussion on the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act, emphasizes the need to support unqualified teachers, whose large proportion keeps the education system operational. She proposes allowing school maintainers to conclude three-year contracts with starting unqualified teachers, provided that they commit to acquiring the necessary qualifications, while ensuring them the same mentorship and 25% self-development time as qualified beginners. Additionally, the speaker recognizes the state's significant financial contribution (over 12 million euros) towards increasing the number of teacher training places and developing flexible programs designed to help unqualified teachers acquire the required skills.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna emphasized that ensuring the quality of basic school and gymnasium education requires increasing the proportion of qualified teachers, offering starting unqualified teachers three-year contracts conditional on acquiring qualification, ensuring that 25% of their working time is dedicated to self-development, supporting the role of school leaders, and making state investments in teacher training, micro-degree programs, and substitute teacher development programs.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Tõnis Lukas is speaking on behalf of the Isamaa faction and requests an additional eight minutes.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas commends the steps taken by the legislative package in establishing a qualification and career model for teachers and school leaders, noting positively the inclusion of vocational education teachers. However, he warns that the entire reform will be an "empty promise" if the general minimum salary for teachers is not raised, given that the career levels do not guarantee a pay increase for the majority. He criticizes the uncertain legal basis of the differentiation fund (being based on a minister’s regulation rather than a government regulation) and its distribution system, which could demotivate local authorities from promoting qualified teachers to higher levels. Furthermore, he offers a solution for ensuring young teachers remain in schools and for guaranteeing their salaries.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes in his speech that the law constitutes a package of solutions concerning teacher qualifications, work evaluation, career models, and the certification of school principals. He highlights the funding issues related to retaining young teachers and proposes Isamaa’s solution: state support for local governments to raise the salaries of lower-qualified teachers using a coefficient of 0.9 (similar to the arrangement for kindergarten teachers). This measure is intended to guarantee a minimum salary floor and keep teachers working in schools.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech expressed thanks to a good colleague.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the Ministry of Education and Research should analyze something no later than 2032, but fixing the date in the law is not necessary, and it should be removed.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced the conclusion of the debate and confirmed that the lead committee wished to finalize the first reading of Draft Act 653. The first reading is concluded, and the deadline for submitting amendments is 4 p.m. on July 4th.