Summer School Mandatory for Teachers if Necessary

To provide sufficient staff, Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) plans to mandate teachers to participate in summer school in case of emergency. He expressed optimism in the APA summer interview that enough teachers will be found for the new model, as the offer is appealing.

Wiederkehr: Children Have the Right to Support in Summer School

Teachers in the summer school receive about 60 euros per hour or one less teaching hour in the next school year. Wiederkehr emphasized that there are currently more applications than available spots. "If not enough people volunteer, there should be the option to mandate teachers, in my view. Because for me, it is important that children have the right to receive support in the summer." Wiederkehr is particularly thinking of teachers with experience in teaching extraordinary students in German support classes or courses.

Teachers' Union Reacts "Very Annoyed"

The chief teachers' union representative Paul Kimberger (FCG) expressed being "very annoyed" in a reaction to the APA. It is a "very unwise action" to communicate such plans to those affected through the media. The teachers' representative already considers the idea of mandatory summer school for extraordinary students in the planned form to be unfeasible, identifying "political activism." "I am curious about the concepts and figures the minister will present and what solutions can arise from them." A mandate would be bad for the learning environment, warned Kimberger, who also expects practical problems. Many of the affected students are not even present during the last two weeks of vacation or could ignore a mandate. Already, a third of those registered do not show up for summer school. Moreover, no one would seriously believe that a child can learn German in two weeks. "It would be much more sensible to finally enable schools to offer more language support during the school year," he once again demanded significantly more staff and resources for this area.

Criticism also came from Green education spokesperson Sigrid Maurer. The summer school introduced in the Corona year 2020 was a successful project of the turquoise-green government, and its further development is fundamentally welcome. However, the government is once again causing confusion and concern among the affected teachers with "half-baked announcements." Teaching staff and parents need clarity on the planned procedures and obligations, Maurer demanded in a statement. FPÖ education spokesperson Hermann Brückl, on the other hand, called Wiederkehr's plans "an insult to every willing student and every dedicated teacher in this country." "It's not the teachers who should be punished, but those families who stubbornly refuse to contribute to integration." Those who are not willing to learn German should feel sanctions, such as in family allowances and other social benefits, he demanded in a statement.

Debureaucratization Initiative in Schools Underway

It is already certain that schools will receive 80 percent fewer circulars and regulatory decrees from the ministry with the start of the school year, as announced. Quality and results must, of course, be monitored, "but this can also be done with fewer regulations," said Wiederkehr. Flipping through decrees is no longer contemporary. Instead, schools should be able to easily look up the regulations when they need them. Additionally, the first measures for debureaucratization from the "Freiraum Schule" project are to be implemented in the fall. Teachers, school administrations, and experts from pedagogical universities and administrative staff submitted 19,000 proposals in June, which are currently being reviewed by experts for feasibility.

Return: Great Interest in the Lateral Entry Model

The personnel situation for the new school year, which starts in Austria on September 1st, appears "somewhat relaxed" compared to previous years, according to Wiederkehr. In certain areas, there is still a regional teacher shortage, such as in some subjects at middle schools and elementary schools. However, the application situation is significantly better than before, with an increase of 17 percent. "This is a good sign, namely that it is attractive to work as a teacher," said Wiederkehr. He also highlighted the great interest in the lateral entry model, with 2,000 career changers applying for a position this time. Wiederkehr, on the other hand, wants to gradually reduce the number of students who stand in the classroom for up to 20 hours very early in their training.

Orientation Classes "Rather the Exception"

"Rather the exception" will be the nationwide newly enabled orientation classes for children and adolescents who come to Austria without educational experience and are to be prepared for entry into the domestic school system, according to Wiederkehr in the fall. "Currently, the pressure from migration is fortunately not so high." Due to the suspension of family reunification since July, only hardship cases are currently coming to Austria under this title, along with other immigrant children without prior schooling experience. Wiederkehr assumes that there will be orientation classes in at least urban areas in the fall. The law ensures that we are prepared for times when more children without prior schooling experience migrate again.

Additional Prevention Work for Suspended Students

The NEOS politician expects a "great effect" from the mandatory suspension support starting in February 2026. Students who repeatedly stand out for violence, threats, or vandalism at school can be suspended for up to four weeks. In the future, they will receive 10 to 20 hours of educational and psychological support at selected school locations. "There is then a consequence, a sanction, so that you cannot hang out at the shopping center when you are suspended." This break from everyday life is important for children and adolescents to reflect on their behavior. However, it is clear that additional prevention work is needed. Therefore, the offer of school psychology will be doubled and school social work expanded. Simultaneously with the suspension support, the already announced administrative penalties for parents who do not want to cooperate with the school after problematic behavior of their children will be introduced.

Education Budget Secured Despite Austerity Package

Wiederkehr sees the education budget as secured despite the tense economic situation - even if the federal government should have to make adjustments to its billion-euro austerity package for 2025 and 2026 due to high inflation and poor economic conditions. It has been agreed that the budgets of the departments will be maintained, including investments in education. The savings contribution of the departments is already "enormous" at 1.1 billion euros, according to the minister. If additional measures are needed to bring the budget deficit back below the allowed limit of three percent, Wiederkehr believes that the public service agreements and pension expenditures will need to be examined.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.