Session Profile: Madis Kallas
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary sitting
2025-09-15
Political Position
The political focus is currently on reducing educational inequality and standardizing teachers' salaries nationwide, recognizing this as a worsening problem. There is an emphasis on the necessity of guaranteeing quality education in every region and valuing the teaching profession, specifically by addressing the salary gap that exists both between regions and within local municipalities. This stance is strongly rooted in policy and values, demanding concrete steps to fundamentally change how salaries are calculated.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates a profound understanding of educational management and payroll mechanisms, utilizing specific terminology such as the salary coefficient and referencing statistics on teacher salary disparities across counties. Specific emphasis is placed on the connection between teacher remuneration and student numbers. Furthermore, the logistical bottlenecks concerning extracurricular education and school transport in sparsely populated areas are highlighted. The knowledge base also extends to comparing the salary differences of local government employees with those of teachers.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is formal and initially conciliatory, emphasizing the need for a substantive and peaceful dialogue with the minister while ruling out any form of accusation. Simultaneously, the tone is one of concern, highlighting the deepening of educational inequality. This is supported by both statistical data (wage disparities) and social arguments (the example of Iceland in diverting youth from negative paths). A structured format for presenting questions is utilized.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is an active questioner, posing six specific questions to the Minister regarding educational inequality and salary policy, while also referring back to questions that had been submitted previously. This pattern demonstrates a prepared and structured intervention during the plenary session, focusing on demanding specific analyses and measures from the ministry.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
A direct confrontation is being avoided, with emphasis placed on the fact that there is no intention to blame anyone and that the problems are not related to the current minister. The criticism is instead directed toward systemic and long-term issues, such as the basis for calculating salaries and the connection to student numbers, which exacerbate inequality.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker is highly cooperative, urging both the Ministry and the Riigikogu (Parliament) to join forces in discussing and finding solutions to reduce educational inequality. They promise a thoroughly substantive and peaceful discussion so that progress can be made on the issue collaboratively. Furthermore, there is interest in knowing whether regional wage disparities have been raised during meetings with the trade union.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is strongly regional, emphasizing educational inequality both in the context of the rural-urban divide and internally within counties and local municipalities. Separately highlighted are the salary coefficient for teachers in Ida-Virumaa, the challenges posed by sparse settlement regarding school transport and extracurricular education, and the situation of gymnasium education in Saaremaa (Orissaare Gymnasium).
6 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic views center on valuing the workforce (teachers) and standardizing salaries through state intervention to reduce the regional wage gap. Support is given to measures such as housing and transport subsidies to assist teachers, and salary disparities among local government employees are also highlighted as a parallel issue.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The social focus is on educational inequality and its impact on youth. It is stressed that the accessibility of hobby education in every region is a critical measure for keeping young people from falling into bad ways and ensuring social cohesion, referencing the Icelandic model. Furthermore, the social consequences resulting from the expanding concept of the local school are addressed.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is aimed at changing the principles for calculating teachers' salary funding, ensuring they better account for regional specificities and sparsely populated areas. A further priority is the implementation of new support measures (housing and transport allowances) to enhance the teaching profession, as well as analyzing the impact of the salary rate in Ida-Virumaa.
6 Speeches Analyzed