By Months: Liina Kersna
Total Months: 15
Fully Profiled: 15
10.2025
1 Speeches
The political position centers on the transparency and efficiency of the education sector budget. The speaker supports a general increase in the education budget, deeming it essential, but strongly criticizes the ministry's contradictory funding methodology regarding the transition to Estonian-language instruction. The focus is on the procedural correctness of policy implementation and the logical allocation of funds. The stance is critical and results-oriented.
09.2025
19 Speeches
This political stance is heavily focused on setting priorities within the education sector, stressing the need to invest in teacher salaries (with the aim of increasing the relevant fund by at least 10%), instead of boosting universal school lunch support. He/she is value-driven, supporting a society founded on freedom and responsibility, and stands against screening or selecting children for entry into the first grade. He/she defends the government's stance, underscoring that the compilation of the state budget is fundamentally a question of setting priorities.
06.2025
8 Speeches
The politician is strongly focused on structural reforms within education and science policy, specifically the improvement of the career model and qualifications for teachers, as well as the organization of research and development (R&D). He/She vigorously supports draft legislation that establishes clear areas of responsibility and funding structures, framing these as necessary steps for fostering a more knowledge-based national economy and enriching society. This political stance is explicitly supportive of the Reform Party faction and emphasizes a policy-based, constructive approach.
05.2025
16 Speeches
The most prominent topics are the appointment of new experts to the council of the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) and the development of education policy in the age of artificial intelligence. There is strong support for increasing higher education and doctoral studies, linking this initiative directly to economic growth and national prosperity. Regarding the selections for the ERR council, emphasis is placed on the candidates' expertise and professional background, while simultaneously criticizing the collective decision by parliamentary factions to appoint only men to the council.
04.2025
4 Speeches
The political position is strongly focused on ensuring the vitality of the Estonian language in the age of artificial intelligence and on developing high culture, particularly supporting the extension of the Estonia National Opera. The speaker emphasizes the constitutional obligation and the need for continuous stewardship in preserving culture. The stance is highly supportive of both expanding the language corpus and the construction of a nationally important cultural object (Estonia), primarily utilizing a value-based and policy implementation-oriented framework.
03.2025
1 Speeches
The political focus is centered on achieving a higher added-value economy, emphasizing the critical need for a smarter workforce. This stance is strongly policy- and results-driven, directly linking economic growth to the development of education and science. The speaker is calling on the government to provide concrete measures aimed at increasing the country's research and development (R&D) intensity.
02.2025
3 Speeches
The political focus is on education, funding for research and development (R&D), and supporting youth mental health. Criticism has been leveled at the ministry's operational effectiveness, particularly regarding outreach efforts for the school psychologists' helpline, since low call volumes suggest a lack of public awareness. The politician offers moderate but firm support for the financial autonomy of universities, viewing it as a crucial value. The overall approach is primarily results-based, concentrating on the actual impact of programs.
01.2025
1 Speeches
The speaker, representing the Reform Party faction, expresses strong opposition to the specific proposal. This position addresses a procedural matter and focuses on criticizing the opposition party (the Center Party) regarding its capacity or readiness to work in the Riigikogu, which points toward a performance-based framework.
12.2024
2 Speeches
The speaker is a strong proponent of education reforms, specifically mentioning raising the compulsory education age to 18 and formalizing micro-qualifications. The political focus is centered on increasing the system's flexibility and highlighting future funding requirements (particularly for teachers' salaries and vocational training). The overall thrust is clearly policy- and reform-driven, underscoring the need for substantive changes.
09.2024
1 Speeches
The political position is one of strong support for the education reform concerning the formalization of micro-qualifications and micro-degrees. It is stressed that this is a long-term and necessary draft bill, preparation for which began when the speaker was still serving as minister. The focus is policy-based, concentrating on establishing quality standards (e.g., 5–30 ECTS, 50% of the volume of formal education) and creating the necessary legal framework.
06.2024
1 Speeches
The political focus is currently directed at the quality of legal education and the standards for judicial qualification in Estonia. The speaker expresses concern regarding the low pass rate (one third) of the judicial examination and is seeking a systemic explanation for this, questioning whether the issue lies in the quality of education or an excessively high standard. This stance is strongly policy-driven, focusing on analyzing the system's performance and potential reforms.
05.2024
3 Speeches
The political focus is clearly aimed at long-term strategic investments, particularly in research and development (R&D) and preventative measures within the social sphere. The speaker opposes the government's plan to cut R&D funding via a negative supplementary budget, deeming this move unwise. They emphasize that preventative measures, such as parenting programs, are significantly cheaper in the social sector than dealing with the consequences. These positions are strongly policy-driven and results-oriented.
04.2024
3 Speeches
There is strong political support for amending the education laws to create a legal basis for removing Ukrainian children who have left Estonia from school registers. This is a policy-driven stance aimed at resolving an administrative issue and freeing up school slots for Estonian children. The speaker emphasizes the significance and merit of the bill, while simultaneously criticizing the political obstruction that has stalled the process.
03.2024
8 Speeches
The political position is supportive of the ongoing education reforms, while simultaneously stressing the necessity of their careful and collaborative implementation to prevent harm to the sector. Criticism is leveled against the failure to avert the teachers' strike, an event which severely damaged the state's credibility. The focus remains on stability and fulfilling the government’s mandate, emphasizing an approach rooted in policy and core values.
01.2024
2 Speeches
The political focus centers on highlighting the inequities within the education funding system, advocating for tying the per-capita grant directly to the school to facilitate teacher salary increases. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on a broader conceptualization of research and development (R&D), specifically inquiring about the role of the social sciences and humanities in innovation. Policy development is heavily geared toward improving political mechanisms (the allocation of funding).