First Reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu "Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic for Amending the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act" (279 OE)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-04-03 19:16
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 54
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 11m
AI Summaries: 54/54 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated Draft Resolution 279, submitted by the parliamentary group of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE). The draft proposed amending the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act to offer students who are Ukrainian war refugees the option of receiving education in the Ukrainian language. The rapporteur, Jaak Valge (EKRE), stressed that the current system—which directs Ukrainian children to Estonian- or Russian-language schools when they lack proficiency—is an educationally short-sighted decision that burdens Estonian teachers and negatively impacts the schooling of both Estonian and Ukrainian children. He pointed out that instruction in Ukrainian (whether based on Estonian or Ukrainian curricula) would help avert a demographic catastrophe in Ukraine and support their national identity.
Heljo Pikhof (SDE), Chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee, summarized the committee discussion, noting that the draft resolution had met with strong opposition. Critics (including Tõnis Lukas and Signe Kivi) argued that creating a separate Ukrainian-language education system would lead to segregation, be beyond Estonia's capacity, and contradict the national goal of transitioning to Estonian-language instruction. It was also stressed that children residing in Estonia must fulfill their compulsory education requirements under Estonian law, and that integration is essential. Despite the EKRE faction's passionate arguments, the draft resolution was rejected in the final vote, securing only 15 votes in favor.
Decisions Made 1
The Riigikogu draft resolution No. 279, submitted by the faction of the Estonian Conservative People's Party, was rejected in the final vote (15 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions).
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Jaak Valge (EKRE), the rapporteur of the bill, who presented the content of the draft legislation and answered eight questions. His position is right-wing.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas announced the commencement of the fourth item on the agenda—the first reading of Draft Resolution 279, submitted by the EKRE faction—and invited Jaak Valge to take the floor, stressing that this specific draft resolution requires a majority vote of the full Riigikogu membership.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge recommends offering children of Ukrainian war refugees three options for organizing their schooling: an Estonian-language school based on the Estonian curriculum with the support of Ukrainian educators, a Ukrainian-language school based on the Estonian curriculum with the support of Ukrainian educators, or a Ukrainian-language school based on the Ukrainian curriculum and utilizing e-learning tools, in order to preserve the Ukrainian language and identity and prepare the children to continue their education in Ukraine.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas thanks the presenter, notes that there are plenty of questions, and proceeds to address them; Ants Frosch, please!
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She describes the situation in a primary school class at Pühajärve School, a rural school in Southern Estonia, where four out of eight students are of Ukrainian origin and do not have a good command of the Estonian language. This makes teaching difficult and poses a broader threat to the Estonian-language education of Estonian children.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She said that the teachers’ workload at Pühajärve School is particularly heavy because they have to manage the discipline of both Estonian students and students who came from Ukraine in the classroom, which drains resources and lowers the quality of education.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
This is a brief request to invite Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme criticized the committee's handling of the draft bill concerning the provision of Ukrainian-language education for Ukrainian children. He asked pointedly what the real motive was—was the goal Russification, or was it simply negligence, or perhaps the unmasking of a propaganda narrative—and requested a more comprehensive explanation.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge notes that his proposal in the Culture Committee caused a strong uproar and accusations of creating a segregating or parallel education system. He offers three motives—social designers pursuing leftist ideology and the restructuring of the state; carelessness or folly; and the desire to increase the number of people staying here from Ukraine due to the war, all in the name of a multicultural society—which hint at the motives underlying these decisions.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Rene Kokk to take the floor.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk highlighted that educating Ukrainian children in Estonian schools is extremely stressful and exhausting for both teachers and students. He questioned why officials are so aggressively intent on turning them into Estonians, especially since Ukraine intends to welcome its people back once the war ends. He proposed that, if there is sufficient good will, Ukrainian-language instruction could be implemented either via e-learning or by utilizing Ukrainian teachers already in Estonia.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge confirms that this could have been organized relatively easily even now, notes the uncertainty regarding the war’s duration, and asks why education policymakers are unwilling to reverse their decision. He refers to three possible reasons, hinting that the failure to admit mistakes may be one of them, which explains the furious reaction of the Culture Committee.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
This is a direct appeal, asking Henn Põlluaas to speak.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas stated that the millions who fled Ukraine are hoping to return to Ukraine, and if they do not, a catastrophic demographic situation would arise. Therefore, everything must be done to ensure they can get home.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge states that Ukraine's demographic future hinges on how many refugees return after the war and whether the birth rate increases: if 90% return and the birth rate climbs, a demographic catastrophe can be avoided, but if fewer people return or the birth rate fails to rise, Ukraine will face a demographic catastrophe, and the burden on the labor force will increase—the differing policies of various countries, for instance, Ukrainian-language schools in Latvia and Lithuania compared to Estonia, will influence the likelihood of this outcome.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Arvo Aller is invited to the stage at the beginning of the address.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller emphasized that, supported by the Estonian e-state and the internet, Ukrainian children could receive mother-tongue education via Ukrainian e-learning, which would strengthen the country's resistance to Russian aggression, while noting at the same time that many refugees do not speak Ukrainian.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge said that very few studies have been conducted regarding the refugees' mother tongue, and a study commissioned at the end of 2022 showed that about half of the refugees spoke Russian as their mother tongue, but language shift does not determine nationality.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Heljo Pikhof was invited to speak during the address.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof said that while considering the context of Ukraine's demographic crisis, Estonia shouldn't worry too much. Nevertheless, we must prevent non-integrated immigration and push for Estonian-language education, as widespread Ukrainian-language schools could lead to ghettoization. She then posed the question: why are some schools required to be Ukrainian-language, yet they are prohibited from being Russian-language?
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge said that the refugees staying in Estonia due to the war in Ukraine are in a special situation, and the main priority is to offer Ukrainian-language education to the extent they desire. This is so the children can continue their education and avoid losing time when they return to Ukraine. At the same time, they must not be forcibly transferred to Estonian-language schools or directed to Russian-language schools.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker emphasized Russia's deportation and Russification of Ukrainian children, and called for Ukrainian children in Estonia whose mother tongue is Russian to be taught Ukrainian. This would allow them to smoothly integrate into the Ukrainian linguistic and cultural space upon their return to Ukraine.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes that now is your time to act.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme says that it would perhaps be understandable to create at least that possibility.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge is skeptical about the numbers and emphasizes that nobody knows the exact figures. He notes that while the deportation and Russification of Ukrainian children to Russia might seem rational, it is ethically immoral. Therefore, the motivation to Estonianize them here in Estonia is ineffective. However, teaching Ukrainian curricula and the Ukrainian language in Estonia to those who have come from Ukraine would indeed be beneficial, helping them integrate back into Ukraine upon their return and aiding in the rebuilding of Ukraine’s post-war society.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls upon Evelin Poolamets to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Poolamets highlighted the view of a Ukrainian teacher that Estonia's rapid school reforms and the transition to Estonian-language instruction scheduled to take place within 18 months could affect both the recruitment of specialists and the quality of students' education. He also asks what the future consequences of providing poor quality instruction to Ukrainian-speaking children might be.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge emphasizes that Ukrainian children are no different from Estonian children, and if they are deprived of work and schooling, while simultaneously being given the hope that they will learn a language they do not actually master, this could derail their personal development and potentially lead them to become prone to crime and alienated from society in the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls upon Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses the current government of pursuing a colonial policy and claims that, under the guise of the war in Ukraine, there are plans to solve Estonia’s demographic crisis by forcibly teaching Ukrainians the Estonian language and placing them in Estonian-language schools.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
To sum up: even if this were a deliberate policy of colonization, it still wouldn't improve our demographic situation, because new residents adopt the demographic behavior of their home country, and even teaching Estonian to Ukrainian children won't increase the birth rate—it will simply follow Ukraine's existing low birth rate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
After thanking the presenter, it is announced that the questions have concluded, and they are asked to introduce the discussion that took place under the leadership of Heljo Pikhof, the Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Committee.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof provides a brief overview of the discussion concerning the education of children from Ukraine, which took place during three sessions of the Culture Committee. The discussion addressed the necessity of establishing a Ukrainian-language school and the impact of transitioning to Estonian-language instruction, and it was emphasized that the final decision requires a majority vote in the Riigikogu.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked [them] for the comprehensive report on the proceedings of the Culture Committee and called upon Helle-Moonika Helme to present her questions.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Presenter Helle-Moonika Helme notes that although Ukraine's demographic situation shouldn't automatically cause alarm, we must seriously take into account the fact that the mass arrival of people from Ukraine to Estonia adds about 6% to the country's population, raising the question of the survival of the Estonian nation in the context of immigration.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof stated that while worrying about Ukraine is important, the small number of people currently residing in Estonia is not causing a demographic catastrophe. She noted that the situation might be different in other countries, but the people who are here in Estonia are not the cause of it, adding that she had lost track of the question in her mind.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme questions why there is no concern regarding the continuation of the Estonian nation. He criticizes the integration and Russification of those arriving from Ukraine, highlighting the contradictions inherent in providing them aid and integration while simultaneously expecting their return. Furthermore, he asks what the underlying arguments were and who ultimately voted for the bill.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman calls upon Martin Helme to speak.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof emphasizes that although the number of Ukrainian teachers and the funding for Ukrainian-language schools are uncertain, and Estonia is moving towards Estonian-language education, it is crucial that the parents and children of the families remaining here learn Estonian. This is because Estonian education provides a strong foundation for future studies and careers, both here and in their home country.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller expressed concern that we do not know exactly who is coming to the country or what specialties they possess. He emphasized that we will not start creating separate schools for religious groups, and although we can teach Estonian to the newcomers, we must not force them to study in Estonian.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Arvo Aller to speak.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof emphasizes that acquiring languages in childhood is vitally important because it allows children to communicate with Estonian children and participate in society, and the need for mother-tongue schools may also affect other refugee groups besides Ukrainians.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asks Henn Põlluaas to take the floor.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas criticizes the commission's logic in banning the Ukrainian-language school and deems it absurd, stressing that Ukrainians want their children back home and asking what kind of demographic catastrophe will result from this, and what positive outcome was seen in this decision.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof stated that Ukrainians may establish a private school. The commission discussed the topic, and the draft resolution will now be sent to the Government of the Republic. This is not the commission's final decision, and today it was placed on the agenda for the final vote, meeting no opposition.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair thanks everyone and asks for Evelin Poolamets's attention.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets emphasized the importance of learning languages and ensuring that children could communicate with one another, and she asked how far along the plan is to hire Ukrainian teachers and start teaching Ukrainian to Estonian children.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She said that it hasn't been discussed by the commission, but learning the Ukrainian language through a private tutor is welcome, and he/she considers it not a bad idea.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the rapporteur, stated that there were no questions, opened the debate, and invited Anti Poolamets to the Riigikogu rostrum to speak on behalf of the EKRE faction.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets asks for three additional minutes of time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar requests three minutes of extra time.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets calls on Estonians to secure the identity of the nation-state and Estonianness, accuses the government of succumbing to the influence of Russian money and pursuing a multicultural utopian project, and promises to act in the name of aid to Ukraine and the preservation of its language and culture.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the debates and put the draft resolution of the Riigikogu, submitted by the EKRE faction, regarding amendments to the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act, to a final vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Bill 279 was rejected, even though 15 members of the Riigikogu supported it.