Agenda Profile: Arvo Aller
First Reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu "Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic for Amending the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act" (279 OE)
2024-04-03
15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Political Position
The political position centers on the education of children who are Ukrainian war refugees, stressing the necessity of supporting native-language instruction as a tool to ensure Ukraine's resilience and state-building efforts against Russian aggression. The speaker opposes mandatory instruction in Estonian, particularly for children of a tender age, instead favoring mother-tongue education supplemented by Estonian language lessons. This stance is strongly value-based, tied to both humanitarian and geopolitical considerations.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates knowledge of the possibilities of e-learning and e-governance within the Ukrainian context, pointing to the existing e-learning resources available to Ukrainians. They use specific anecdotal examples (the case of 12 children, only two of whom spoke Ukrainian) to illustrate the real situation regarding language proficiency. Furthermore, they criticize the state's lack of awareness regarding the professional specialties of incoming specialists, highlighting the need for improved data management.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is interrogative and critical, posing direct questions to the presenter and utilizing examples to back up the speaker's position. It employs both logical arguments (such as the capabilities of e-governance) and emotional appeals (the child's tender age, the difficulty of the native language). Objections (for instance, the demands of other interest groups) are resolutely dismissed as "pseudo-issues," stressing the need to maintain focus on Ukraine, which is currently at war.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
There is too little data.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The opposition is directed at the state’s ignorance concerning the professional qualifications of incoming individuals (specialists), as well as the policy that compels young children to study in a non-native language. Criticism is also leveled against those who introduce "pseudo-issues" concerning other interest groups into the discussion, thereby diverting focus from the Ukrainian crisis.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The collaborative style involves acknowledging and referencing examples provided by colleagues ("Colleague Ants brought up an example"). The data does not indicate direct openness to compromise or cross-party cooperation; the focus remains on questioning the presenter and defending one's own position.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is clearly placed on international issues (the war in Ukraine, Russian aggression) and their impact on Estonia’s national education and immigration policy. There is no specific local or regional focus.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic views indirectly touch upon the management of immigration, criticizing the state for not knowing the specific professional fields of the incoming specialists. This indicates a desire to better manage and utilize the labor resources arriving in the country. Other economic standpoints (taxation, expenditures) are not presented.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The main social issue is the education and language instruction provided to child war refugees, emphasizing the importance of native language education during a child's formative years and opposing mandatory instruction in Estonian. The speaker draws a clear distinction between the Ukrainian crisis and the educational demands of other minority groups (Muslims, Jews), deeming the latter irrelevant in this specific context.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on the draft amendment to the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act (279 OE), concerning the organization of education for children of Ukrainian war refugees. The speaker acts as a critical questioner, supporting a political direction that would allow Ukrainian children to study in their mother tongue, rather than forcing them to study in Estonian.
2 Speeches Analyzed