“We were provided today with a thorough overview of the reforms needed in the education system,” said Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. “The messages coming from teachers have been loud and clear, and we now have to implement the restructuring that has been put off for so many years. Our aim is to reduce teachers’ workload while streamlining the school network and developing career and salary models for teaching staff. The solutions we come up with will then need to be negotiated with local governments and teachers themselves. They are necessary not only from the point of view of the sustainability of our education system, but also so that we can raise teachers’ pay to 120% of the national average by 2027.”
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas says it is clear the education sector requires major reforms. “Today I presented the government with an initial overview of the changes that are being worked on,” she explained. “Teachers are looking for a career model and agreements on their working conditions and salaries. I have just sent everyone involved invitations to join us at the negotiating table. We also need to work with local governments to streamline the school network, where our long-term aim is to make the state responsible for all levels of education higher than basic school. We have also initiated reforms to extend the mandatory school age, so as to reduce the number of young people with low levels of education and a lack of professional skills. Vocational education reforms are also being planned. And our goal in early childhood education in the short term is to establish a unified system for it which brings together both child care and kindergarten services and improves the availability of both.”
Specifically, in 2024 the ministry will be working on 0-budget reforms to the following areas: a progressive career model for teachers; the school network; extending the mandatory school age; vocational education; early childhood education; and education costs.
