Agenda Profile: Ester Karuse
Interpellation regarding failure in Basic School final examinations (No. 800)
2025-10-06
The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Political Position
The political focus is on tackling educational inequality and poor basic school final exam results, particularly in mathematics. The speaker urgently calls for equal state support for all regions, criticizing the fact that Valga has been left struggling compared to Ida-Virumaa. This stance is strongly oriented toward improving educational governance and ensuring teachers' work motivation. The issue is being addressed as a matter of both social and regional injustice.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in the field of education, highlighting detailed data regarding the results of mathematics exams and teacher turnover at Valga Basic School (more than half of the graduating students failed; 12 teachers departed). The analysis covers the social and administrative roots of the problem, including stress, the language barrier, and poor educational governance at the local level. The presentation utilizes quotes from the director of Valga Gymnasium and references to local media publications.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is passionate, critical, and rhetorically charged, emphasizing the "brutal" nature of educational inequality. Strong emotional appeals and rhetorical questions are employed ("Why is Martin from Valga less important than Sergei from Kohtla-Järve?") to underscore the injustice of the situation in Valga. The speaker draws on both concrete facts and narratives (the teachers' lawsuit) and concludes with a direct call to action aimed at the voters of Valga municipality.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker’s pattern of activity includes submitting interpellations (such as the one submitted on June 17) and actively participating in local education-themed debates in Valga. He/She utilizes the Riigikogu podium to highlight regional issues and demand a national solution for them.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary criticism is aimed at the Valga Municipal Government, which is accused of poor educational leadership, engaging in litigation with teachers, and undermining their work motivation. The criticism is intense and substantive, highlighting the municipal government's refusal to discuss changes to employment contracts with the teachers. The speaker urges Valga residents not to vote for the current incumbents, who have "torn the education system to pieces."
4 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
There is no information available regarding cooperation with colleagues in the Riigikogu or with other political parties. The focus is on holding the Minister of Education and the local authority accountable.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is overwhelmingly regional, concentrating on the educational issues facing Valga city and municipality. The speaker emphasizes their personal connection to Valga (having studied at Valga Basic School and Gymnasium) and demands that the state recognize and support Valga's ethnic diversity equally with Ida-Virumaa.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic viewpoints indirectly relate to labor relations and the use of public funds, criticizing the Valga municipality for attempting to reduce teachers’ wages and for incurring court costs. The speaker supports guaranteeing teachers’ rights and work motivation, and criticizes the use of public money to dispute against teachers.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Education is a central social issue, emphasizing the need to ensure equal opportunities and support children affected by stress, low self-esteem, and the language barrier (poor command of the national language). It also stresses monitoring and ensuring compulsory education is fulfilled until the age of 18, and supporting catch-up systems for those who fall behind.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is currently centered on the Minister of Education’s accountability and finding solutions to the issues surrounding basic school final examinations. The speaker is demanding clarification on how the state intends to support remedial instruction and how compliance with compulsory schooling requirements will be ensured for 18-year-olds.
4 Speeches Analyzed