Ilona Sillak and Kristi Lüüde, director and CEO of the Tallinn private kindergarten Naba – highly esteemed amongst colleagues and competitors – think that municipal kindergartens ought to be financed by state, not local governments.
Let state finance kindergartens
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You are eight years old as a private kindergarten...
I. S.: Yes, for Estonia, this is quite a decent age.
K. L.: What we may talk about is the way we administrate Naba. It is the size and number of kids that matters – the more children, the lower the expenses per child.
I. S.: Surely we cannot generalise just by one kindergarten. As, in our case, rental payments come into play, just like with many other private kindergartens.
K. L.: I cannot comment on how the municipal kindergartens make it. Not needing to pay rent, they should have smaller expenses.
Do you think the current financing model, by local governments, is good?
I. S.: I have always had a single view on this. If professional standards are regulated by state, financing should also be state regulated. I do not agree with the situation of kindergarten teachers’ wages differing so much by local governments. In my opinion, there should be s state established kindergarten teachers minimum wage, guaranteed by state. After that, it would be up to the local governments – if they are able to invest more into pre-school education, so be it. As long as I have been working in the educational system, there has been talk about that.
The same problem was also underlined by Marju Reinvart, board member of Estonian Kindergarten Workers Union. Have there been attempts to address somebody, to get pre-school and general education systems merged?
I. S.: Yes, surely. For me, is sounds absurd to claim that there has been no talk about it. Even so, the union will be most qualified to comment.
That was said by minister of social affairs Taavi Rõivas. As you talk to other kindergarten teachers, what is the overall view? Is it expected that the system be state regulated?
I. S.: Of course. We are talking about requirements laid down by state, obligatory for all kindergartens and teachers. When kindergarten teachers’ wages differ, in local governments, by up to €150, cow can the less paid teacher’s work be less valuable – seeing she is obligated to fulfil the same tasks and requirements?!
K. L.: Considering the low wage level of kindergarten workers, this is quite a difference!
Do you think it would be a solution for the state to start regulating pre-school education, guaranteeing uniform financing?
I. S.: There should be common foundations. Also, I think that there should be a unified system for financing private kindergartens.
K. L.: Pursuant to law, private educational establishments get equal ad-hoc support on equal basis with municipal establishments. The sum varies with different local governments. In Tallinn, kindergartens must make it with €106.6 per kid a month; in Naba, a place costs €504.
It is incomprehensible how the municipal kindergartens are making it. I was talking to senior methodologist Maaja Mänd of Tallinn University pedagogical seminary. Found out that many kindergarten teachers work with reduced loads, so they could be paid.
I. S.: That’s the thing... every kindergarten is trying to make it somehow. I am amazed we have been able to maintain good pre-school education quality.
The condition they are in, that is another matter altogether. Of course, there are the local governments that value pre-school education and where they have speech therapists, special pedagogues, psychologists, music and movement teachers etc.
And there are local governments that are trying to make kindergarten and child care services better accessible for families.
Would it be realistic for kindergarten workers to sign a declaration demanding a uniform state pre-school and general education system? Would there be signatures for that?
I. S.: I believe so.
K. L.: Private kindergartens should also be an option for families, whether it be for lack of places [at municipal kindergartens] or due to the child raising philosophy. This should not be an emergency option, or just a privilege of the rich.
In Sweden, for instance, there is no financial difference for parents whether they opt for private or municipal kindergartens. And that should indeed be normal.
Was it more difficult to make ends meet, as a private kindergarten, during the economic crisis?
K.L: Sure. We were substantially affected in 2009-2010. During that time, we had four vacancies, constantly. For us, that was already critical...
Four places – and that is critical?
K.L: Yes. Four vacancies out of 80. And for us, that was already critical. Planning the budget, we have counted on full house.
So we are not talking about any profits here?
K.L: Annual reports are publicly available, all may have a look. But to have four constant vacancies, that’s €24,000 a year – big money, for us.
The current profits providing just for some spare money?
K.L: Yes, that’s right.
Full house, right now?
K.L: At the moment, yes.
Anybody standing in line?
I.S: About 200 kids or so (laughs).
No?!
I.S: True! But there is air in it, of course. You see, many families register their kids for the private kindergartens, fearing they will not get a place at the municipal ones. The bright side being that, as private kindergartens used to be viewed as so-called emergency options, today it is different. Most parents bringing their kids to Naba have made a very conscious choice. Overall, kids’ turnover has been very low with us.
K.L: The turnover was, indeed, mostly related to the economic crisis only. As some people’s financial situation worsened sharply, there was somebody leaving almost monthly. But many did come back.
I.S: Right now, there is no turnover – taking kids to other kindergartens – at all.
K.L: There was no turnover, last year. This year, two kids did leave. But that was due to parents moving to another region.
So as families develop relationships of trust with a definite kindergarten, would it be best not to toss kids hither and thither?
I.S: Absolutely. And this being in our very interests, that, if a kid is brought to us, it should be the parents’ wilful and definite choice. It is very important for us that the parents’ expectations and desires correspond to what we have to offer. That’s what mutual satisfaction is based upon. Then we can apply our training philosophy and the parents are content with the kindergarten they have trusted their child with.
K.L: And then there are the children for whom change of environment is very complicated.
But now for the €500 fee. How did you arrive at that?
K.L: The fee has been calculated to cover all costs of administration. Rent, utilities, staff wages, trainings, teaching aids etc.
Through the years, the fee has increased. In 2007, it was 4,500-5,000 kroons.
I.S: Tuition fee is directly linked to teachers’ wage rises – as teachers’ wages are raised, we follow suit, and then we will also have to increase the fee.
K.L: Tuition fee rise has been caused by the general price rise. Both electricity and gas prices are up, costs of basic food products are constantly increasing. And the wages as well, of course. We have tried to raise the staff salaries in line with the state raising wages for teachers. Currently, it is about 10 per cent above the Tallinn municipal kindergarten average. Even so, out salary fund making such a big share of total costs, raising salaries by a couple of per cent will significantly affect the budget.
Minimal wage rate for kindergarten teachers with higher education
Sauga Commune
• junior teacher – €560
• teacher – €620
• senior teacher – €715
Sillamäe
• junior teacher – €473
• teacher – €593
• senior teacher – €635
Source: Riigi Teataja