First Reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu "Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic for Improving Teachers' Working Conditions" (373 OE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-03-19 15:16
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 29
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 43m
AI Summaries: 29/29 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The third item on the agenda is the first reading of Riigikogu draft resolution 373, submitted by the Isamaa faction, titled "Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic for Improving Teachers' Working Conditions." The draft resolution requires the Government of the Republic to prepare the necessary package of legislative acts no later than May 1st of this year, the goal of which is to ensure that teachers' salaries reach 120% of the Estonian average wage and to establish a four-stage teacher career model starting from 2025, which integrates salary growth, calculation of workload, and remuneration for additional duties. This is a leading topic in education policy and is at the center of questions and discussions concerning school network issues. The Riigikogu initiative firmly stands before the government's responsibility for swift and unified action, as previous promises and starting positions have caused disappointment, along with regional and general concerns regarding teachers' working conditions and the stability of schools. In another context, the necessity of ending the negative impact of the strike is emphasized, and the foundation must be laid for long-term industrial peace and the sustainable development of the education system, including a unified education policy and nationwide quality continuity. In summary, the shaping of both the salary and career model, the calculation of workload and additional duties, and the frameworks for cooperation between the state and local governments are addressed, and further consideration is given to how to ensure the necessary financial resources and legal guidance in the 2025 budget and in subsequent discussions.
Decisions Made 2
The Riigikogu Culture Committee decided to place the draft bill on the plenary session's agenda and hold the final vote today.
The Riigikogu Culture Committee decided to appoint Liina Kersna (Culture Committee) as the representative of the steering committee in the working group for the review and representation of this draft bill; the decision is collegial, not made by a single person.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa, Member of the Riigikogu), who belongs to the right-wing political flank. His appearances in this segment demonstrated a consistent and comprehensive stance on the topic, stressing the swift implementation of changes and the need for a national agreement.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The third item on the agenda is the first reading of Riigikogu draft resolution 373, submitted by the Isamaa faction, which aims to propose improvements to teachers' working conditions to the Government of the Republic. Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas was invited to the Riigikogu rostrum to present the report.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Isamaa submitted a resolution to the Riigikogu, the purpose of which is for the government to develop and implement legislation that guarantees teachers' salaries will rise to 120% of the Estonian average and establishes a four-tier career model starting from 2025, and concludes a nationwide agreement with local governments and other stakeholders to ensure labor peace in schools.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanked the rapporteur, remarking that there was a substantial number of questions, and subsequently invited Helir-Valdor Seeder to speak.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The speech emphasized that Parliament must discuss and adopt a decision regardless of the Minister of Education's ongoing negotiations. This is because reaching agreements will necessitate subsequent legislative amendments or budget proceedings, and failing to act now risks the funding not being secured or the agreement remaining unsigned within the coalition.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that to ensure industrial peace by the autumn, government-level guarantees and concrete agreements regarding education policy are needed already by the end of this academic year (either legally formalized or in the form of granting specific powers to the Minister of Education), rather than a text delivered late in August. Otherwise, trust will be undermined, and an appeal to the national conciliator might come prematurely.
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Signe Kivi thanks the Chair and the Rapporteur, noting that the Minister of Education and Research recently provided a comprehensive overview concerning the school network, salary agreements, the career model, and working conditions. She asks the commission member to identify a specific topic or a proposal that was missing from that overview.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Jüri Ratas addresses Signe Kivi and asks her.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas stated that the draft legislation supports the activities of the Minister of Education, and that the government must ensure and implement a unified education policy. It should not merely rely on the minister's serious approach, but rather legally establish responsibility and the agreements concerning this year's budget.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas calls upon Jevgeni Ossinovski.
Jevgeni Ossinovski
AI Summary
Jevgeni Ossinovski accuses the Isamaa opposition of softness and hypocrisy, recalling that in 2013, the Prussian-era career model was abolished under the leadership of Isamaa, and now they are taking a step back and claiming it was a major mistake.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas points out that the previous government initiated significant steps toward the transition to Estonian-language education and raising teachers' salaries, but the new government halted these processes, thereby undermining trust and jeopardizing the pipeline of new teachers and the future of schools.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
This speech is simply a request to invite Riina Solman to speak.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasizes that education is paramount for Isamaa, and the party is prepared to make adjustments. She cautions against the government's claims regarding the large share of spending allocated to education, and warns of the Reform Party's plans to consolidate the school network in rural areas, which would be detrimental to regional policy and internal security. She then asks what goals and advice you yourself would offer, and whether we should be ashamed of the high proportion of education spending in the GDP.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The report suggests that a significant portion of education spending is necessary, and Estonia must achieve equilibrium in the school network of sparsely populated regions through a national strategy. This strategy should incorporate the proposals submitted by the Isamaa party to the Riigikogu regarding the preservation of small schools and ensuring the availability of qualified teachers.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
This is a short official invitation where Jüri Ratas asks Aivar Kokk to speak.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk, speaking as the spearhead of Isamaa's education policy, affirms this commitment, recalling the introduction of free higher education and the advancement of state gymnasiums since 2013. He concludes by asking what the average teacher's salary should be compared to the Estonian average.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas notes that the coalition's promise to raise teachers' salaries to 120–125% of the average has not been fulfilled, which is creating distrust and dissatisfaction within the education sector. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the career model and the flexible funds allocated to schools.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker thanked the rapporteur and for the answers, stated that there were no questions, and invited Liina Kersna, a member of the Culture Committee, to the rostrum.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna presented a summary from last week's discussion in the Culture Committee concerning the education agreement and education reforms, and noted that the working groups are handling these tasks. The committee then unanimously decided to place the draft bill on the plenary session's agenda, hold the final vote today, and appoint Liina Kersna as the representative of the lead committee.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas thanked the rapporteur and called upon Jevgeni Ossinovski to pose a question.
Jevgeni Ossinovski
AI Summary
Ossinovski asked the committee whether the restoration of the professional career levels would take the same form as before or a modified one, emphasizing that it is crucial for teachers, school administrators, the ministry, and school maintainers to reach a consensus during the discussions.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Our commission focused on the future and improving the education system, and Isamaa proposed a four-tiered career model whose exact steps must be agreed upon between the parties and which cannot be implemented top-down.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asked whether the discussions being held in the commission would soon lead to concrete actions, or if they would remain merely discussions without any decisions.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna emphasizes that in education, the focus should be on discussion rather than making cuts, and a timeline has already been established for continuing and concluding the talks on this specific issue.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Jüri Ratas welcomed the rapporteur and asked Aivar Kokk to ask the question.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The presenter asks what the goal of the current coalition's school network is, whether it should be scaled back, and what the overall vision entails, including proposals for cutting the upper secondary school section.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Discussions regarding the Education Agreement will focus on the school network on April 29th, and based on previous deliberations, the ministry plans to cooperate with local governments on the topic of vocational and secondary education and assume greater responsibility for secondary education, but the consolidation of the basic school network has not been brought up.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas announced that today's sitting has concluded, and we will continue tomorrow at 14:00 with the same agenda item, as the next step would be the opening of debates.