First Reading of the Draft Basic Education Act (419 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-05-14 13:31
Total Speeches: 94
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 31m
AI Summaries: 94/94 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
During the first reading of Bill 419, the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) is addressing amendments to the Basic Education Act, the aim of which is to create a unified and focused system of early childhood education. The main emphasis is placed on effectively integrating childcare facilities and kindergartens into the education system and ensuring the consistent implementation of the national curriculum for early childhood education. Furthermore, the legal framework governing childcare facilities and kindergartens is being modified: early childhood education will move under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Research; a clearer definition of childcare as an educational institution will be added; cooperation between local governments and the private sector will be increased; and a more flexible structure for providing support services and special assistance will be established. The bill mandates bringing existing practices up to a modern standard, including the language of instruction, qualification requirements, funding arrangements, and supervision organization, and specifies the timeline for processing parental applications and the principles for guaranteeing a place. The scope of impact is extensive, covering all municipal and private childcare and kindergarten institutions, and also focusing on the improved organization of services for children with special needs and inclusive education.
Decisions Made 2
The Culture Committee decided to include the draft legislation on the plenary session's agenda for May 14th, conclude the first reading, and designate the current speaker (Margit Sutrop) as the representative of the lead committee.
The Lead Committee decided to conclude the first reading and set the deadline for submitting amendments as 17:15 on May 28th; the first reading is concluded, and proceedings on the second item on the agenda will resume later.
Most Active Speaker
Tõnis Lukas – Member of the Isamaa faction; right-wing (right) position.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announces the second item on the agenda: the first reading of Bill 419 of the Basic Education Act, initiated by the Government of the Republic, and invites Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas to present the report.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The draft Early Childhood Education Act, presented before the Riigikogu, establishes a unified system of early childhood education, under which childcare facilities and kindergartens become early childhood education institutions supervised by the Ministry of Education and Research. The bill defines the concept of childcare, mandates a transition to Estonian-language instruction, increases the involvement of local governments and the private sector, and introduces unified support services. Furthermore, it updates the qualification requirements for staff and sets a transition period lasting until 2026–2028. The recommended date for the law to enter into force is January 1, 2025.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Urmas Kruuse to take questions.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse asked whether the amendment to the law changes the principles governing the waiting list for kindergarten applications, and whether it affects municipal planning and the use of the early waiting list.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The changes concern only the speed of processing the application for a spot. According to the current law, the reasonable time must be two months, during which the application for a child's admission to kindergarten must be approved. Furthermore, this is not the time allotted for planning spots, and local governments may regulate more precisely when parents can submit their applications for a spot.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus points out that the new law prepares children for general education starting in the first grade, and she questions the extent to which this makes it compulsory or leaves the decision up to the parent.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Urve Tiidus to speak.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas said that early childhood education in Estonia is voluntary based on parents’ decisions, but participation among 5–6 year olds is 94%. The goal is to raise this to the 95–96% level, in accordance with European Union targets. Since early childhood education is generally widely accessible and affordable, she sees no problems.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Vadim Belobrovtsev to take the floor.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kindergarten places in Tallinn have been scarce for years, and the current practice places children on waiting lists for up to three kindergartens starting from birth, which gives parents a chance to choose. However, if a two-month system for finding a place were implemented, the local government would likely find a spot in a different city district, which raises the question of whether such a system is actually an improvement over the existing one.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The new draft law prioritizes parental preferences: the local municipality must base its decisions on specific preferences for kindergartens or childcare facilities, rather than the entire service area of the City of Tallinn. Furthermore, it sets application deadlines to be no earlier than three months before the child reaches eighteen months of age, and, when necessary, incorporates private childcare or private kindergartens, thereby making the system significantly more flexible.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Tõnis Lukas to take the floor.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She stresses that the tradition of the Song and Dance Festival relies on early music education and the crucial role of music teachers in kindergartens. However, the new law fails to specify minimum staffing levels or precise guidelines for teacher preparation. This, he/she argues, is essential to ensure children are not exposed to the wrong musical language and that they grow to love music.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that the curriculum for early childhood education defines musical skills, and although the law does not set an additional minimum workload, the kindergarten must employ a music teacher, and the professional requirements for teachers remain in force. This ensures that the tradition of kindergartens having music and movement teachers continues unbroken and fulfills the objectives set out in the curriculum.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Tanel Kiik to speak.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asks the Minister of Education how thoroughly representatives of the health and social sectors were consulted when planning changes concerning special groups and children with special needs, in order to prevent a situation where the children requiring the most attention are left without assistance.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that the new draft law does not define the content of special support or health-related services; rather, it regulates the work carried out in kindergartens, standardizes the nomenclature for groups, and mandates that the kindergarten or childcare facility must provide special support or enhanced support, as well as the support designated for the child by the Rajaleidja decision.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a very short request, which Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi issued: "Kert Kingo, please!"
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo requests clarification regarding the general differences between childcare services, municipal kindergartens, and private kindergartens.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explains that a crèche is an early childhood education institution for children aged 1.5 to 3, where the staff are childminders who hold at least a secondary education and a Level 4 vocational qualification. Furthermore, a kindergarten is an educational institution intended for 3-to-7-year-olds, where the staff are teachers who possess a bachelor’s degree and pedagogical competencies, and a curriculum is followed in both types of institutions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The announcement was simply a request asking Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to come forward.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The draft law increases qualification requirements: kindergarten directors must hold a master’s degree, requirements are also being raised for childminders and assistant teachers, and given the current shortage of specialists, it raises the question of where we are supposed to find them.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that there is no significant shortage of assistant teachers or childminders, and most of them are qualified with vocational or secondary education. The biggest change is the introduction of language requirements—assistant teachers must be proficient in Estonian at the B2 level by 2026. Approximately 80% of principals already hold a master’s degree, and the master’s degree requirement will take effect starting in 2028. However, the qualification requirements for deputy heads of studies are not being raised because this is not stipulated by law.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse asks whether the assertion that the proportion of participation in pre-school education exceeds 90%—and that the impact of kindergarten attendance on PISA results—still holds true in basic school. Furthermore, he asks whether local governments are permitted to offer childcare services for 1.5- to 3-year-olds within the same kindergarten building, and whether doing so would preclude the provision of pre-primary education.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls Urmas Kruuse to the floor.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that the preschool system can continue to function the same way it does today, and that widespread participation in early childhood education, coupled with strong organization by local municipalities, improves PISA results. However, the responsibilities for basic education and upper secondary school must be clearly differentiated and reforms must be implemented, because studies conducted by Tallinn University show that broad early childhood education and high qualification requirements give children a better start in school.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a short invitation for Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller criticizes the principle of proximity to the place of residence, where a rural family is required to walk for 30 minutes, and asks how, in such a situation, a kindergarten spot close to home is guaranteed for children in rural areas.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explains that when selecting a kindergarten or childcare facility, the parent's preferences are considered first, even if those preferences extend beyond a 30-minute walk. Proximity to the place of residence is only used as a criterion in exceptional cases where the stated preferences cannot be met.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to the stage.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev points out that kindergartens in the center of Tallinn are overcrowded, and while many people want to enroll there, spots near home are unavailable. This raises questions regarding the construction of new kindergartens, their financing, and state assistance for local municipalities.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
If it is not possible to guarantee a child a kindergarten place based on the parents' preferences, the statutory principle of residence priority applies.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Aleksei Jevgrafov to speak.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Pursuant to the draft legislation, the local government unit may set the daily cost of food expenses for municipal and other kindergartens. Before setting this cost, the opinion of the board of trustees must be heard. This raises the question of whether this could create a pitfall where kindergartens compete with each other by offering cheaper food.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas states that the cost of children's meals will be set uniformly across all municipal kindergartens and daycares. However, due to special regulations, local government kindergartens might end up having different prices, and ultimately, it is the local government that confirms what that final price will be in their respective kindergartens.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi addresses Urve Tiidus and asks.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus stresses that children are excellent language learners, and while they can learn multiple languages at once, the transition to Estonian inevitably necessitates speech support services in kindergartens. She then asks whether the proposed law guarantees this provision.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Effective September 1, 2024, all kindergarten groups will operate in Estonian. This means that both language usage and language instruction must be age-appropriate, and teachers and assistant teachers must possess suitable language learning methodologies. Furthermore, they must be cognizant of the child's speech development and the required extent of speech therapy support, particularly in transition groups where children enroll without proficiency in the Estonian language.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Tõnis Lukas to speak.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She raises the question of why a private childcare facility must ensure educational and upbringing activities in Estonian, but this is not mandatory in a private kindergarten, and why municipalities may not commission services from all kindergartens located within their territory, but only from those where Estonian-language instruction is guaranteed.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
This arises from the constitutional definition of an educational institution, stating that the language of instruction for educational institutions of national minorities is chosen by the owner of the institution, a rule which also applies to private kindergartens.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asks Heljo Pikhof to take the floor.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof believes that, regarding the letter received by the Culture Committee, the wording of subsection 2 must be changed so that children in both childcare facilities and kindergartens are assessed at least once per academic year by a special education teacher or a speech therapist. This is because early detection and the identification of special needs are vital, and kindergarten teachers lack the corresponding competencies for this task.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas emphasizes that according to the current approach, a kindergarten teacher notices special needs and refers the child to a support specialist if necessary. A childcare provider does not possess these skills, which is why a speech therapist's check-up is mandated. Furthermore, although early detection is effective, it incurs additional costs, and discussions with kindergarten operators must continue.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart raises questions regarding the draft legislation, specifically asking why the maximum capacity in kindergarten groups is reduced for children with special needs (one child with special educational needs counts as three spots), what action will be taken if the groups reach full capacity, where a child with special needs would be placed in such a scenario, and whether there are specialists available to fill the position of support services coordinator.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas says that designating a support services coordinator is a new work assignment, not a new position, and can be fulfilled by existing employees. Furthermore, children requiring special support and enhanced support can be placed in a regular group if the group size is smaller, which makes the system more flexible and inclusive.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Margit Sutrop to speak.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop pointed out that the total costs of pre-primary education make up 20% of overall education expenditure, and the greatest responsibility falls on local governments. Of the 2022 costs, 460 million euros came from the local municipalities themselves (KOVs), while state support amounted to 32 million euros and the contribution from citizens was 42 million euros. She then questioned whether local governments would be able to cover such a large burden in the future.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
With the entry into force of the new law, there will be greater flexibility and clarity in the system for providing childcare services. While the need for support services for children with special needs is growing, local government expenditures are not projected to increase; instead, they are expected to stabilize against the backdrop of demographic changes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invited Evelin Poolamets onto the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks the minister whether the current bill supports or contradicts the statement made on August 31, 2021, that the role of the Estonian state should not be ensuring Estonianness, identity, and language.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Preschool Education Act mandates the introduction and integration of the Estonian language and culture for all children receiving preschool education in Estonia, including in private kindergartens designated for national minorities. However, the state’s obligations do not end there—the state must also ensure the well-being, security, and much more for its people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Annely Akkerman to speak.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann asks whether local governments will be able to use salary support funds in the future to pay the wages of childcare teachers as well, noting that such a new definition will appear in the organization of early childhood education.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that childcare facilities employ caregivers, not teachers, and the regulation that currently supports kindergarten teachers’ salaries applies only to teachers, who must possess a professional teaching qualification, meaning a bachelor’s degree.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The presenter invites Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller highlighted the confusion and concerns regarding the implementation of the new kindergarten and childcare regulations, asking for clarification on the measurement of floor and air temperature and whether floor heating is mandatory, while also noting that current nursery group teachers will not receive salary support in the future.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that these requirements would not be changed compared to the current situation, and the current requirements stipulate the minimum air temperature and floor temperature, and there must not be a heating element in the group room so that a child cannot access it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski to speak.
Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The presentation raises the question of how many childminders fail to meet the stipulated requirements, and how authorities plan to verify, after the law comes into effect, that all teachers and childminders comply with the criteria.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that Estonia has 451 childcare service providers, many of whom are home childminders offering the service on their own premises. She noted that 5,710 children up to the age of three attend childcare, while only 34 seven-year-olds are in care. She added that the exact number of those 451 providers who do not meet the requirements is unknown, but the changes are proceeding according to schedule: starting in 2026, a curriculum must be implemented for childcare, and by 2028, childminders must meet enhanced qualification requirements.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi turned to Lauri Laats and asked him to come.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats is criticizing the fact that rather strict new requirements are currently being imposed on childcare services, and is questioning their necessity. He cites examples such as the requirement for staff to be qualified and the ratio of one teacher per five children (or two teachers for six children).
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
To integrate the two systems into a unified whole, all nursery groups will become childcare facilities. Consequently, the requirements for existing childcare facilities will increase, and the requirements for nurseries will decrease.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Rain Epler to give a speech.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler debates the issue of tying kindergarten teachers' salaries to the minimum teacher salary, examining the risks that would follow if this practice were potentially ended. He questions whether the state values them equally with school teachers and what kind of message this action sends to kindergarten teachers.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that a preschool teacher working in nursery groups will remain classified as a teacher, and if they work in a childcare facility, they will maintain the link to the teacher's salary structure.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Heljo Pikhof to the stage.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof expresses concern about how Estonian-language education will be implemented this year in kindergartens and childcare facilities. She asks how it will be ensured in practice that every group has at least one full-time teacher proficient in Estonian, and what steps will be taken if the entire staff is unable to speak Estonian with the children.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that in Estonian-language kindergarten groups, at least one teacher must have C1 proficiency in Estonian, and assistant teachers must be at least at the B2 level. She noted that while the current law does not regulate these specific requirements, the new legislation plans to clearly define the language standards so that all staff working with the group are proficient in Estonian.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler claims that the spread of depression and anxiety in Western societies may stem from excessive protection, where children are raised in a highly sheltered manner and are prevented from encountering real life. He emphasizes that learning through risk awareness and genuine life experience is more important than restrictive safe spaces and lessons derived solely from books.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stressed that children must be guaranteed complete safety in educational institutions and that burns must be prevented both at home and in kindergarten.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Margit Sutrop to speak.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop raises the question of whether converting childcare facilities into educational institutions could lead to a problem: namely, that even if a curriculum exists, there might not be a teacher present at all, even for children aged three to seven.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas explains that starting from the age of three, the local municipality cannot offer childcare services as a substitute for kindergarten services, and must instead offer kindergarten services; the parent retains the right to choose childcare, but this is a private service and is not publicly regulated, and she herself utilized childcare until the age of seven.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Minister and announces that Margit Sutrop, a member of the Culture Committee, will present the discussion and positions of the lead committee.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop describes the Culture Committee’s discussion regarding the draft bill on early childhood education, where the central issues are the standardization of kindergarten places with childcare services, the two-month deadline for the proceedings, cooperation with the private sector, and the transition to Estonian-language education. Furthermore, the committee decided, based on the Chancellor of Justice’s proposal, to change the term 'childcare' to 'educational institution,' to include the draft bill on the plenary session agenda on May 14th, to conclude the first reading, and to appoint the current speaker as the representative of the leading committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi offers his thanks, announces that there are no questions, opens the debate, and invites Tõnis Lukas to speak on behalf of the Isamaa faction.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She emphasized that the proposed legislative package updates the curriculum for kindergartens and reinforces the kindergarten's role as a crucial stage for transmitting developmental and cultural traditions, while simultaneously continuing to allow for the option of home education and ensuring the availability of professional staff.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He wants the discussion to last three extra minutes.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas notes that while the primary goal of Estonian kindergartens is to introduce Estonian cultural traditions, a significant shift has occurred: kindergartens are now part of the education system, and funding must be managed in a balanced manner. This includes allowing the procurement of services from the private sector and ensuring that Estonian-language instruction for children from other linguistic backgrounds is systematic and does not place an undue burden on families.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks [the assembly] and requests that the floor be given to Heljo Pikhof on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof is introducing the draft Preschool Education Act. This legislation integrates childcare into the education system, establishes unified standards, and guarantees a place in childcare facilities for children aged 1.5 to 3 years, and a place in kindergarten for children aged 3 to 7 years. Furthermore, the bill raises the qualification requirements and salary levels for kindergarten teachers and assistant teachers, and introduces qualification requirements for assistant teachers for the first time, ensuring that the entire system provides high-quality early education.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi requested three additional minutes.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof emphasizes that Estonia’s success depends on consistent and accessible education, starting with early childhood education and kindergarten, which ensures balanced nutrition, develops the child’s academic and social skills, and mitigates societal inequality.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He/She offers sincere thanks and requests that Margit Sutrop take the floor on behalf of the Reform Party faction.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop emphasizes that early childhood education is the foundation of the entire education system, and it must be strengthened through systematic values education and qualified teachers. Furthermore, the continued investment in this area by the state and local governments will bring long-term savings and must be maintained.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi requests that the discussion continue for three more minutes.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop confirmed on behalf of the Reform Party that they support the bill, the aim of which is to standardize curricula and ensure places in childcare and kindergartens, by involving the private sector and bringing qualified teachers to the country, along with the transition to Estonian-language education. Furthermore, the economic reduction of the family's financial obligation is being discussed, provided the country's financial situation improves, because early childhood education lays the foundation for our future.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Thank you. The round of negotiations is concluded by Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that the childcare participation fee must not exceed 20% of the minimum wage, and the early education curriculum must uniformly introduce Estonian cultural traditions to all children and support the linguistic development of multilingual children, including their acquisition of the Estonian language.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The discussions were closed, the completion of the first reading of Bill 419 was confirmed, and the deadline for submitting amendments was set for May 28th at 5:15 PM. The first reading is concluded, and the second item on the agenda has been addressed.