Kante: Tallinn is implementing Estonian-language education reform methodically, not making excuses
Tallinn politician Andrei Kante has rejected Reform Party claims that the city is slowing the transition to Estonian-language education, pointing to record education funding this year. He urges judging the reform by actual results rather than pre-election rhetoric.
Andrei Kante, a representative of Tallinn's Centre Party, has pushed back against claims by Reform Party city council member Ünne Pillak that Tallinn is delaying the transition to Estonian-language education. According to Kante, the city is carrying out the reform methodically and has allocated more resources to it than ever before.
Kante points out that this year's education budget is a record 464 million euros, of which 10.2 million euros are earmarked specifically to support the transition to Estonian-language schooling. Tallinn has also taken on some tasks normally handled by the state, such as training new teachers and developing teaching materials, coordinated through the Methodology and Competence Centre (MEKK) at the Tallinn Teachers' House, which has become a model for other Estonian municipalities as well.
Criticism and political context
Kante argues that the Reform Party's criticism is timed ahead of elections and aims to frighten voters, destabilize the current Centre Party–Isamaa coalition governing Tallinn, and divert attention from other issues. He recalls the party's earlier promise not to raise taxes, which was not kept and, in his view, undermined public trust in Estonian politics more broadly.
According to Kante, acknowledging problems — such as teacher shortages or varying levels of school readiness — does not mean opposing the reform, but rather reflects an intention to implement it responsibly. Monitoring results on the transition published in early June gave grounds for both cautious optimism and serious discussion of remaining problems.
Kante notes that the transition action plan was drafted and approved under an earlier city government, and that a subsequent government, which briefly included the Reform Party, made no major changes to it. The current city government, he says, has significantly expanded support measures and their funding. Tallinn continues moving toward a unified Estonian-language school system at the pace set by law.
