The Riigikogu approved the agenda of deliberations for the working week, including 63 items.

The Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas replied to the interpellation concerning vocational education in Järvamaa (No 69), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Jaanus Marrandi, Mai Treial, Ester Tuiksoo, Karel Rüütli and Villu Reiljan on 8 May. 

The Minister explained that, by merging of Türi Technical and Rural Economy School and Paide Vocational School, duplicating investments would be avoided. For example, there are plans to transfer civil engineering specialities, including road construction, from Paide to Särevere and to take advantage of the study bases which are already there. Särevere student accommodation facilities which already have been partially renovated will find more effective use, as well as other study facilities in common use. Also, jointly used resources will improve the quality and availability of vocational training by considerably increasing the number of elective modules provided by the study programme. 

Lukas said that the Ministry of Education and Research had been pursuing a very clear strategic direction which foresaw that four leading agricultural vocational educational institutions were developed in Estonia. So, an animal husbandry training centre is emerging in Särevere, near Türi. The field of agricultural technology is also being developed in Särevere, in addition to animal husbandry. When Järvamaa Vocational Education Centre will be established, civil engineering specialities will be transferred there, including road construction. In order to ensure that the specialties which are important for rural life will see sustainable development at Türi Technical and Rural Economy School, a cooperation agreement has been concluded between the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Lukas confirmed that, in view of the future developments of the national vocational educational institutions network in ensuring high quality vocational training in Järvamaa in the regions to the North and East of Paide, it was vital also to preserve the study base of Paide Vocational School as a study place. Jointly planned investments avoid duplication in the two study places located at a relatively close distance from each other. Both Särevere and Paide training facilities are going to be developed as equal study places within the framework of Järvamaa Vocational Education Centre. 

The Minister pointed out that both Järva County Government and Järvamaa Local Government Association had supported the merging of the two schools. “This is provided as an item in the agreement of understanding for cooperation in 2008 concluded by them. Also, the merger plan received support from the boards of both schools, so we cannot speak about a personal decision or dramatic responsibility here, and I think that the question of the location of the address has been approached too emotionally,” explained Lukas. 

The Minister pointed to the fact that no consensus had been reached on the legal address of the school at the joint meeting of the board of Paide Vocational School and Türi Technical and Rural Economy School and that it had been left for the Ministry of Education and Research to decide. 

The Minister of Regional Affairs Siim-Valmar Kiisler replied to the interpellation concerning the situation of investment aid to local governments (No 73), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Tarmo Mänd, Ester Tuiksoo, Karel Rüütli, Villu Reiljan and Mai Treial on 14 May. 

During the open microphone, Toomas Trapido took the floor.

The Riigikogu Press Service