Ethics and Democracy Education: Also Recommendation from the Viennese Integration Council
This was explained at a press conference on Monday. The recommendation - which is also a long-standing pink demand - cannot be enforced at the state level, as Wiederkehr emphasized. Schools that deal with corresponding projects should now at least become "Democracy Schools".
This designation can in future be carried by compulsory school locations where participation plays an important role. The certificate will be awarded to schools where students, parents and teachers are actively involved in decisions, according to Wiederkehr. It will be carried out by the Vienna Youth Centers Association in cooperation with the Education Directorate. The project will start in the 2025/26 school year.
School Certificate with Specific Goals
The situation in the schools will first be evaluated. Subsequently, an action plan with specific goals for promoting democratic structures will be developed. The introduction of a school subject is not possible, as Wiederkehr emphasized. This is a federal competence - although he is currently discussing the topic in coalition negotiations. There has been good progress on this, as he revealed today.
Wiederkehr also announced plans to revise the Vienna Kindergarten Education Plan. Democracy education should also be emphasized there. With special focuses, values of a democratic community - such as pluralism and human dignity - should be promoted. A special focus will be placed on children under three years old.
The recommendation was part of the latest statement from the Integration Council (WIR). This was presented today by Wiederkehr and WIR members Judith Kohlenberger and Kenan Güngör. The migration researcher and the sociologist also pointed out the need, in their view, to create more social spaces for exchange and dialogue between different communities - not only virtually, but also in real existing meeting facilities.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.