First Reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu "Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to Initiate Drafts of Legal Acts Ensuring the Clarity and Predictability of the Development of the School Network" (285 OE)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-04-10 17:39
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 26
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 55m
AI Summaries: 26/26 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The seventh item on the agenda concerned the discussion of the first reading of Draft Resolution 285 of the Riigikogu, submitted by the Isamaa faction. The objective of the draft resolution is to initiate legislative proposals aimed at ensuring clarity and predictability in shaping the school network, and to integrate the roles of the state and local governments into education policy while taking regional specificities into account. As one central substantive message, attention was drawn to the concerns of sparsely populated areas: demographic changes, internal migration, the birth rate curve, and their impact on the extent of the school network and adaptation processes. It was also discussed how the intertwining of regional policy and education policy, along with the synergy between state support sectors, could keep schools viable for communities that are as cohesive as possible.
Decisions Made 1
Collegial decision of the Riigikogu: Draft Bill 285 was rejected; the voting results were 17 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions.
Most Active Speaker
Tõnis Lukas, member of the Isamaa faction and representative of the faction; position: right-wing (right).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
During the seventh agenda item, a draft bill presented by the Isamaa faction will be introduced to ensure the clarity and forward planning of the school network. This is the first reading and requires a majority vote of the Riigikogu. Tõnis Lukas is invited to be the rapporteur.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas expresses his readiness to gladly present 285 OE.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
In Chairman Lauri Hussar's address, only the note "285 OE" is visible, and consequently, it is not possible to provide a sensible summary.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas calls for extending the policy response time, reforming the equalization fund, ensuring state support for small schools, and providing equal funding for private schools, in order to sustain schools in sparsely populated areas. This is intended to better integrate regional and education policies and prevent the school network from declining.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the speaker, announces that there are questions, and invites Margit Sutrop to speak.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop thanked the presenters for the package of proposals and expressed optimism that the goals are achievable through detailed measures. However, she questioned whether the drafting of the bill had also considered other objectives, such as quality education and a decent salary for teachers. Furthermore, she provided examples of how the rurality coefficient and the measures concerning small and private schools might affect the school network and require additional funding.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites the audience to ask their question.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop emphasizes that local governments have the duty to finance schools, including private schools, and questions whether this should be considered a comprehensive package along with other factors.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the operation of private schools is only possible with the support of viable communities, and in some regions, it is sensible to maintain a basic school if regional needs and the financial situation demand it. He adds that the consolidation of schools and cooperation with other schools can ensure quality even in small schools.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar gives thanks and addresses Anti Allas with a request.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas pointed out that the objectives of the draft bill might not guarantee the preservation or funding of small schools, and suggested considering class-set based funding for small schools that meet specific criteria and are located further away from larger settlements.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He said that the previous funding model, which was based on class sets, is now history. Currently, support for small schools is still calculated based on class sets, but the money is given to the local municipality and can be reallocated. However, if a school is sustainable, that money should really go directly to the school. Furthermore, regional cooperation—for instance, sharing chemistry teachers between multiple schools—would ensure full-time salaries for teachers and a fairer distribution of their workload.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks [the previous speaker] and calls upon Priit Sibul.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul questions whether there is any alternative at all to tailor-made solutions, stressing the necessity of special arrangements in border regions to ensure that life persists in Setumaa and schooling is guaranteed for children.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that solutions for schools must be adapted as tailor-made solutions according to the needs of the region, ensuring that the regions remain viable and that young families are guaranteed proximity to a school. Furthermore, the state and local governments must jointly create a specific solution for each case, while avoiding exceptions that lead to injustice. Trust between local governments and a long-term development plan are absolutely crucial when dealing with school management and structural changes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair calls upon Andres Metsoja to speak.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker emphasizes that rules are more important than exceptions, and based on the example, asks whether the state should ensure a unified language instruction rule that is regionally sensible, or allow exceptions that permit the teaching of Russian in the second and third grades.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
This draft bill addresses the transition of schools in sparsely populated areas to Estonian-language instruction, emphasizes adherence to national regulations, and stresses that local councils should implement faster, grade-by-grade transitions rather than granting exceptions, and calls on communities, such as Tartu and one Pärnu school, to maintain the originally planned pace.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Our sincere thanks to the presenter; there are no further questions. Margit Sutrop, a member of the Culture Committee, is now invited to introduce the discussion that took place in the Culture Committee regarding the Riigikogu podium.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop describes how the Culture Committee discussed the aforementioned bill during three sessions (November 14, December 12, and April 2), explaining why the proceedings stalled—EKRE submitted 50 proposals that were ultimately exclusionary—and how the positions of the ministries and funding issues finally mandated the committee to continue its work and place the bill on the plenary agenda, unanimously appointing Margit Sutrop as the representative of the lead committee.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the rapporteur, announced that there were no questions, opened the debate, and invited Tõnis Lukas to the Riigikogu rostrum on behalf of the Isamaa faction.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Speaking about the sustainability of schools in sparsely populated areas, Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that we must implement specific solutions appropriate for the region, offer tailor-made assistance, speed up both decision-making and communication, and direct resources to where they will yield tangible results, rather than to densely populated areas.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker concludes the debate and initiates the final vote on Bill 285, which ensures transparency and foresight in the formation of the school network and requires the majority vote of the entire membership of the Riigikogu for its adoption.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced before the voting results were read out that Helle-Moonika Helme had her hand raised and wished to ask a question.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme said that there was nothing, and she doesn't want it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Draft Law 285 was rejected; 17 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, and there were no votes against or abstentions recorded.