Interpellation concerning the promises made regarding teachers' salary increases (No. 580)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-04-08 21:17
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 28
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 46m
AI Summaries: 28/28 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda included the Riigikogu interpellation concerning promises of teachers' salary growth, which was submitted on September 27, 2023, as query No. 580. The questioners were represented by Tõnis Lukas, Helir-Valdor Seeder, and Andres Metsoja, and the presentation was scheduled to be delivered by Tõnis Lukas at the Riigikogu podium. Central to the agenda was the question of the continuity of promised teacher salary and workload levels, and the resulting development of the funding model, career model, and workload calculation. The goal is to ensure that by 2027, teachers' salaries reach 120% of the Estonian average, and to guarantee this within the framework of a comprehensive education agreement that encompasses the synergy between the responsibilities and funding models of local governments and the state. Also discussed were the justifications for the 2023 indicators, the nuances of the 2024 initiatives and funding, and questions posed to the relevant parties at the level of the Ministry of Education and the government.
Decisions Made 1
There are no final decisions. A response was provided to the inquiry, and further agreements regarding the education pact, the career model, and the funding model will continue at the level of the government and the stakeholders.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Kristina Kallas, who serves as a Member of the Riigikogu and the Minister of Education and Research (position: other). She represented the government's views regarding developments in the education sector's funding models, career model, and workload accounting, as well as the 120% targets. She also provided a comprehensive overview of the 2023 indicators, the plans for 2024, and the mechanisms for negotiating the education agreement. Her remarks covered both the context of the data and the government's position, emphasizing the need for nationwide coordination.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The next item on the agenda concerns the interpellation (No. 580) submitted on September 27, 2023, regarding promises concerning teachers' salary growth. The interpellation was submitted by Tõnis Luke, Helir-Valdor Seeder, and Andres Metsoja, and Tõnis Luke was once again invited to serve as the rapporteur.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas announced that he was changing the topic after all.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi laughs and says that it would be recommended.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Isamaa stresses that issues concerning education funding, teacher salaries, workload, and the career model must be addressed through the joint responsibility of the entire government and backed by sustainable financial resources—not merely through an allocation by the Minister of Education. Furthermore, it requires a clear timeline and the support of both the government and the Riigikogu to ensure that the current negotiations do not stall and that a concrete plan is established.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the questions posed by the interpellators.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that the average teacher salary in 2023 was 120% of the national average (thanks to the salary support provided in Ida-Virumaa), and although the growth in 2024 will be smaller, the goal is to reach 120% across all of Estonia by 2027. To achieve this, a new funding and career model is being planned, which addresses workload calculation and working conditions, clarifies the responsibilities of the state and local governments, and requires additional state budgetary funds, which are part of the ongoing education agreement negotiations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites the audience to submit questions and asks Rain Epler to respond.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticized the implication of the funding model working group's name, noting that according to the ledger data, teachers have already achieved approximately 120% of the Estonian average salary. He then asked whether the target is truly 120% based on a standard workload, and what that figure would be if the hours corresponding to a standard workload were taken into account.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas explains that the funding model working group is a negotiation group involving four parties, whose goal is to reach an agreement regarding teachers' salaries (set at 120% of the Estonian average) and changes to the funding structure based on municipal workload and class size. This is being done using a calculated model, while acknowledging that the data concerning workloads is inaccurate and that local governments fall into three categories: optimal, underloaded, and overloaded.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Tõnis Lukas to speak.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas stated that the 2023 figures regarding the increase in teachers' salaries and the ratio between teacher pay and the average wage were positive, and the salary coefficient applied to Ida-Virumaa teachers produced excellent results. However, he questioned whether this level could be sustained next year and whether agreements in the education sector could realistically be reached solely using internal resources without an increase in budget allocations.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas emphasizes that the fundamental principles of the funding model must be agreed upon before the numbers are set, and although the goal is to achieve a 120% rise in the level by 2027, not all additional funding should be expected from the state budget. Furthermore, approximately 147 million would be needed over three years if other resources are not included.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev highlighted the delay concerning the salary supplement for Ida-Viru County teachers, noting that the educators had to wait three months and only received three months' worth of pay at the end of March, instead of getting their January and February salaries on time. He then asked what caused this situation and whether such a recurrence is ruled out in the future.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas said that the new application round will be opened slightly later due to delays in the reports for the previous funding regulation. This is because 170 new teachers were affected by issues concerning the proper order of their documents, which required inquiries to be made. Payments will therefore be distributed in different batches, organized by local government, only to those whose paperwork is in order, ensuring that teachers do not have to wait because of incorrect submissions. The Ministry hopes to see a reduction in errors during the autumn application round.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the Minister, announced there were no questions, opened the debate, and started with Rain Epler, immediately granting him eight minutes because Rain had been unable to express his thoughts regarding the item preceding the last one on the agenda.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticized the fact that the government is spending money on green transition slogans, taking money away from families with children, and failing to increase teachers' salaries, while simultaneously attempting to suppress the opposition's voice. He stressed that a swift discussion on funding models is needed.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expresses his sincere thanks; the efficient use of time is noted, and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart requests an additional three minutes and is granted them.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart points out that following months of negotiations, only 17 euros were secured for raising teachers' wages. Furthermore, the coalition is busy pointing fingers, but no solutions are being reached, and the government is demonstrating an inability to manage crises.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Tõnis Lukas to speak.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Addressing the issue of teachers' salaries, Tõnis Lukas points out that although the pay rose significantly in 2023, reaching around 120% of the average, 2024 has demonstrated that the government failed to take the teachers' concerns seriously enough. This failure led to a strike, which came at the expense of the students. He stresses that the entire government must bear responsibility, and the budget must include substantial measures for changes to the career model and workload calculation, as well as raising the salary levels for senior teacher and master teacher by at least 20%, not just 5%.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi asks for three more minutes to be added.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The presentation emphasizes that even if the differentiation fund rises to 25%, it will not solve the inequality in teachers' salaries, and the state must act as the driving force to prevent a two-tier education system, because in some regions, state support and agreements have created a significant advantage, while others have not.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Minister has also requested the floor for the closing remarks, and we now invite Kristina Kallas to the stage.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated from the Riigikogu rostrum that local municipalities are responsible for paying teachers' salaries, while the state only covers the per-student allowance (capitation fee). Consequently, the teachers' strike was aimed at both the central government and the local municipalities, and it is crucial to preserve the autonomy of local governments when organizing the school network.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas calls upon Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to deliver an immediate response.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In the presentation, the speaker stresses that the state is responsible for teachers' salaries, and the claims made regarding how local authorities use their funds have not yet been proven. At the same time, the target for the average teacher's salary is noted in the coalition agreement, and the Centre Party has raised salaries while in government, with the exception of the COVID year.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas offered his thanks and informed the assembly that there were no further requests to speak, thereby closing the debates, as the query had been answered and the consideration of the fifth item on the agenda was concluded.