Teachers' Salaries
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-01-17 14:43
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 15m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The current debate during the Riigikogu information hour focused on a pressing issue—the increase in teachers' salaries and the government's inability to fulfill the promise made in the coalition agreement to raise teachers' wages to 120% of the Estonian average by 2027. The questioner, Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa), expressed disappointment that the government first postponed the salary increase from 2024 to subsequent years, and now suggests that funding will not be available even for 2025–2027. Lukas stressed the importance of preventing a strike and asked Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for concrete proposals to the Education Employees Union.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas defended the government's stance, emphasizing that education already receives the largest allocation from the state budget (1.5 billion euros). She explained that the 120% target is tied to the Education Minister's obligation to implement reforms to find the necessary resources internally, as the state budget is strained and creating new unfunded expenses is irresponsible. Kallas highlighted that teachers' problems are complex (career model, lack of support specialists), not just the minimum wage. During the debate, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart (Centre Party) criticized the government's mixed messages and accused Kallas of "steamroller politics" and unfairly blaming the Tallinn local government regarding the payment of wages during the strike. Kallas, in turn, accused Tallinn of political exploitation and violating the law, stressing that the organization of education is the responsibility of the local government.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made. It was the Riigikogu information session, where members of the government answered questions from members of the Riigikogu regarding the teachers' salary policy and the looming strike.
Most Active Speaker
The most active politician identified by speaker ID was Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa). Lukas, representing the opposition (the center-right wing), opened the debate by posing a pointed main question to the Prime Minister concerning the government's failure to deliver on its promises and the measures taken to avert the strike. He also asked a follow-up question, challenging whether securing funds for teachers' salaries should be the sole responsibility of the Minister of Education or the shared responsibility of the entire government.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu now proceeds to today's fourth question concerning education, which Tõnis Lukas is addressing to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and the topic of which is teachers' salaries.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas highlights the teachers' frustration regarding the unfulfilled promises and the lack of funding needed to reach the planned salary level by 2025–2027. He then asks the Estonian Education Workers' Union what specific proposals and strike prevention plan they have prepared for the government.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that teachers' salaries will reach 120% of the Estonian average by 2027. Achieving this requires reforms from within the sector and the impact of the 2025 income tax reform, but no new costs can be added, and the money must be covered by existing resources using the differentiation fund.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the speaker and asks Tõnis Lukas to pose a clarifying question.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the problem is broader than just salaries, encompassing working conditions, workload, and long-term reforms. He adds that although long-term processes may not provide the necessary 200 million in additional funding by 2027, the entire government should collectively find the money, rather than leaving this responsibility solely to the Minister of Education and Research.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized that the state’s money comes from taxpayers, and although defense, healthcare, internal security, and roads require additional funding, education is the only sector where cuts will not be implemented and where money is available to raise teachers’ salaries. Proposals regarding this matter must be submitted to the government in January.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announces the supplementary question and invites Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart points out that the government is sending contradictory and confusing messages about the teachers' crisis and funding, blames its coalition partners and local authorities, and calls on the coalition, along with the Minister of Education and local governments, to reach an agreement on how to prevent a teachers' strike.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stresses that while the state allocates funds for teachers' salaries, that money might not reach every teacher. Furthermore, she finds the use of taxpayers' money to support the Tallinn strike unethical, and she calls for greater transparency and accountability to ensure that expenditures do not exceed revenues.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announced that today's fourth item would be concluded, and that before addressing the question intended for Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, the procedure for conducting the session would be discussed. Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart was then invited to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He stresses that paying wages during a strike is not illegal, and the prime minister should not use arbitrary language that accuses local governments of diverting funds elsewhere.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks [you], but cannot accept this as a question regarding the procedure for conducting the session.