Education and Science, Estonia, Legislation

Under the agreement, the government will continue to pay an operating subsidy to private schools until the end of 2019 equaling 75% of the average operating subsidy paid to schools in the respective area, but no more than 87 euros per student per month, spokespeople for the government said.

The present arrangement will be retained until the end of this year.

"The present system is not sustainable looking from whatever angle, this decision was indispensable. Although the transition period will be longer, we can now focus on the priorities of education policy, which in the case of schools is a pay increase for teachers," Minister of Education and Research Jurgen Ligi said.

He said the ministry intends to use the money to be saved to raise teacher salaries.

The Reform Party minister also pointed out that ensuring diversity of the school network is a duty arising from the Local Government Organization Act.

Margus Tsahkna, chairman of the junior coalition partner Pro Patria and Res Publica Union and minister of social protection, said the settlement ensures a stable working atmosphere for private schools for the next years.

"We did not consider it possible to bring the operating subsidy for private schools to zero from this year like the bill currently in the Riigikogu would have done. The dispute that lasted for six months has ended in a settlement that ensures a working atmosphere for private schools for the coming years," Tsahkna said according to spokespeople for the party.