Foreign ministry forfeits amendments to funding of diplomats' children
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will cancel amendments to the Foreign Service Act that would have changed legislation regarding diplomats children's education, making it possible for them to continue their studies with the same curriculum in different countries.
Rainer Saks, Chancellor of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, said on ERR's show "Otse uudistemajas" the amendment, which would have seen the children of diplomats being admitted to general education schools instead of schools with an international curriculum, will not be put into force.
Saks admitted that cuts can not be made to children's education. "For us, motivation for people to move from one location to the next is becoming more difficult every year. That is why investments in education are an inevitable part of our personnel policy.
"It (funding for education for children of diplomats - ed.) will certainly not change and we do not want to make cuts there. But I will reiterate that these decisions have to be made rationally and the budget has to be treated responsibly."
Saks added the amendments do not mean that social benefits are lessened, but the procedure of their implementation will change.
He explained: "One of the goals of this reform was to move to certain financial limits so diplomats would have the opportunity to withdraw the benefits as cash, leaving them in charge of their activities."
Saks said since the preferences of diplomats are different, the ability to stick to the current process will remain.
On June 26, ERR News wrote that diplomats sent a joint letter to both Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) and Chancellor Rainer Saks, expressing their dissatisfaction with aspects of amendments to the Foreign Service Act.
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Editor: Kristjan Kallaste