Return Against Federal-State Confusion in School Financing

15a agreements typically regulate federal investments, to which the federal government attaches certain conditions for the states. "Wherever such agreements have been concluded, it becomes apparent that there is no clear division of responsibilities between the federal government and the states," Wiederkehr stated in the "Oberösterreichische Nachrichten" (Wednesday edition).

Kindergarten regulation as the most well-known example

The most well-known 15a agreement concerns kindergartens: Through this, the states receive money for the free mandatory kindergarten year for five-year-olds, German language support, and the expansion of offerings. In return, the states commit to "ensuring as uniform standards as possible in quality and quantity of elementary educational offerings" nationwide in terms of staff qualifications and to use uniform pedagogical foundational documents (including the educational framework plan, values and orientation guide). But there are also such contracts or negotiations in the school sector, for example, for the expansion of all-day school forms or for leisure education and school social work.

Wiederkehr no longer wants 15a agreements in the school sector

Instead, Wiederkehr wants the competencies to be clearly regulated within the framework of the reform partnership. "If you regulate and resolve these conflicts and responsibilities, then mixed financing is no longer needed." He again spoke out against a fundamental regionalization of educational agendas. That would come at the expense of permeability. "You can see such problem situations in Germany (where education is a state matter, ed.), and I will not support this course."

(APA/Red)

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