Teachers
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-01-24 15:04
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 16
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 14m
AI Summaries: 16/16 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today’s sixth question in the Riigikogu focused on the sharp confrontation between the government and the opposition regarding the teachers' salary issue, strikes, and the lines of responsibility in education funding. Riigikogu member Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart (Center Party) posed a question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform Party), accusing the head of government of demagoguery and misleading the public concerning the financing of teachers' salary increases and the role of local governments. Kovalenko-Kõlvart emphasized that salary negotiations are conducted by the state, not local governments, and defended the City of Tallinn's contribution to education funding, highlighting that the city also covers the costs of students originating from other municipalities. She demanded that the government stop looking for culprits and take real steps to help teachers.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas did acknowledge one data error (regarding the salary supplement in Viimsi municipality) but redirected the debate back to the structural problems of the education system and the responsibility of local governments. Kallas stressed that the state lacks control over whether the allocated salary support reaches the teachers, and accused the Mayor of Tallinn of cynical political calculation regarding paying salaries to striking teachers. Kallas referred to the Collective Labour Dispute Resolution Act, according to which wages are not paid during a strike, and suspected that taxpayer money was being misused to buy popularity. Kallas emphasized that Estonia's education expenditures are high relative to GDP (6.2%), but the money is not reaching the teachers, which is why structural reforms are necessary, not simply adding more money.
Decisions Made 1
No official decisions or votes were taken during the discussion of this issue.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, a member of the Riigikogu, who presented the prime minister with the initial question as well as two clarifying follow-up questions (the latter of which was classified as a procedural question). Kovalenko-Kõlvart represented the position of the opposition (the Centre Party), sharply criticizing the government's inaction and accusing the prime minister of making demagogic claims.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riigikogu Member Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart is today submitting six questions to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and the topic concerns teachers.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker emphasized that the budget for teachers' salaries comes from the state, with Tallinn contributing its own part, and called on the government to cease its demagogic rhetoric and take concrete steps to help teachers.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that education funding is complex and there is a lack of control, and local governments must take responsibility to ensure the money is channeled to teachers' salaries in a timely manner and that the education system data is reliable.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Message: Now is your time to act.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is calling for a joint effort to find a solution.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked [the previous speaker] and called upon Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to pose a clarifying question.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In the report, the speaker accuses the Prime Minister of demagoguery and asks what the next steps are concerning state education funding and the payment of teachers' salaries during the strike, and whether, if necessary, the recovery of funds or the imposition of sanctions on local governments via the administrative court is foreseen.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that the observance of laws does not depend on sanctions, and taxpayer money must not be a tool for gaining popularity during strikes. Furthermore, we pay for working, not for striking, and a solution must be found jointly, including considering whether and how to reclaim these funds from local government wage subsidies if they are paid out during a strike pursuant to the Collective Labour Dispute Resolution Act.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called upon Aleksandr Tšaplõgin to ask a follow-up question.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin asserts that 10 million euros are required to increase teachers’ wages, yet simultaneously, officials are receiving multi-million euro bonuses (PRIA 600,000 euros). He questions whether this is right, asks for examples demonstrating how the Estonian people have actually improved their lives, and recommends that the funds be redirected to teachers’ salaries.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed that the discussion is not about 10 million euros, and although the funds are available in the budget, structural reforms must be implemented so that the majority of the money allocated to education goes directly into teachers' salaries, thereby raising those salaries to approximately 120% of the Estonian average.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the Prime Minister, stating that the national broadcaster belongs to the people and is permitted to run advertisements. He then concluded the sixth question of the day and announced that before moving on to the seventh question, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart has a question regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart emphasizes that her question concerns all local municipalities, not just Tallinn, and asks what the prime minister's next step is.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar told Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart that this was not a procedural question.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
An inquiry was made regarding the payment of wages during the strike and the misuse of funds, asking whether the money would be recovered and whether the matter would be taken to the administrative court, but no response was received.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar said that it was not a procedural question, but rather an objection.