NordenBladet —
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas replied to the interpellation concerning the financing of general education (No. 829), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Jaak Aab, Reili Rand, Züleyxa Izmailova, Madis Kallas, Tiit Maran, Helmen Kütt, Heljo Pikhof, Andre Hanimägi, Anti Allas, Lauri Läänemets and Riina Sikkut.
The interpellators wanted to know what funding was provided for for general education in the 2026 state budget.
Kallas explained that EUR 93.8 million had been planned for the costs of state-run general education schools and the costs of maintenance of municipal schools that teach according to the international curriculum, which by the way also included ensuring teaching in hospital which was fully funded by the state.
Kallas noted that, in the 2025 and 2026 school year, Estonia would have 43 state general education schools operating, including the International European School, which was a state school. Based on the Basic School and Upper Secondary School Act and the bases and conditions set for municipal schools, each year the state budget provides targeted subsidies for basic schools and upper secondary schools for the labour expenses of teachers, heads of school and head teachers, including places in boarding school facilities and educational literature. So, the total support for private schools in the state budget will be 53 million. The exact distribution of subsidies will, of course, be determined based on data in the Estonian Education Information System as of November 10 and it is currently still being calculated.
According to Kallas, compared to 2025, an additional amount of EUR 60.1 million has been allocated for the increase in teachers’ labour expenses in the 2026 budget. “This amount will be divided between private schools, state schools, and local governments. This 60 million includes an 8.2 percent increase in the minimum salary for teachers next year and a 2% increase in the differentiation fund directed to municipalities for the implementation of the teachers’ career model,” the minister said.
Kallas explained that two million euro had been earmarked for local governments in the 2026 budget for the measure of primary schools close to home. “It is the same amount compared to last year. This school year, there has been no significant increase in the number of smaller primary schools close to home. Two million euro are allocated each year to support very small schools with up to six grades so that municipalities are not forced to close these schools,” Kallas said.
The in-prison education subsidy will be 0.7 million and the boardinghouse subsidy for general education schools will be nearly one million euro. “As is known, the state supports the running of school boardinghouses and the amount per student on general support will be EUR 2,000, the subsidy for a school boardinghouse place for a student on enhanced support will be EUR 2,700 and the school boardinghouse subsidy for a student on special support will be EUR 3,400,” Kallas said.
According to the minister’s explanations, the total support allocated to local governments for running general education schools will be almost EUR 500 million which is a large amount. “This is planned in the local government support fund. The support for running general education schools is intended for the labour expenses of teachers, heads of school and head teachers, in-service training, acquisition of educational literature, school lunches, and operating expenses of schools, including based on the number of enhanced and special support students, in order to ensure the necessary support services and organization of studies,” Kallas noted. She recalled that, for students on enhanced and special support, the capitation coefficient was multiplied by four, and thus such students were allocated a separate capitation.
Kallas recalled that, a few years earlier, the education support for students in need of general support, which had otherwise been available through the support fund, had been directed to the revenue base of local governments – nearly eight million. “This is the additional funding for inclusive education, which is no longer part of the general funding for general education from the support fund, because it was directed to the revenue base of local governments,” the minister said.
Kristina Kallas also replied to the interpellation concerning parents funding activities included in the compulsory curriculum (No. 853).
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro, replied to the interpellations concerning the action of the police at the memorial event in Sinimäed Hills (No. 820), concerning the risk of interference in elections on social media (No. 822) and concerning the temporary control line (No. 845). Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi replied to the interpellations concerning the Prime Minister’s statements regarding the 800 million euro (No. 813), the tax structure in Estonia (No. 817) and changes to VAT on food in neighbouring countries (No. 827).
The interpellation concerning the performance “ÖÖ25” in the Estonian National Museum (No. 840), submitted to Minister of Culture Heidy Purga , and the interpellation concerning the state budget strategy (No. 833), submitted to Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi, were removed from today’s agenda.
The sitting ended at 8.58 p.m.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal
+372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: Issues related to the financing of general education were discussed in the Riigikogu
Source: Parliament of Estonia