Increase in Students in Compulsory Education in Vienna
City Councilor for Education Bettina Emmerling (NEOS) reports a slight easing of the teacher shortage at the start of the school year. In July, 1,250 open positions were filled. In August, there was an application window for 240 positions, to which around 700 people applied. Emmerling expressed her satisfaction with this development. Nevertheless, the combination of increasing student numbers and retirements remains a challenge.
More than 20,000 First Graders in Vienna
There is also confidence regarding the class-leading teachers. In August, 22 positions were still unfilled. As Education Director Elisabeth Fuchs explained, efforts are currently underway to fill these positions - although the recruitment process takes some time, she added. It was stated on Thursday that a temporary solution in one or another class cannot be ruled out initially.
More than 20,000 children will sit at a school desk for the first time next week. According to Emmerling, primary schools will be reinforced by 18 fellows from Teach for Austria, who will be deployed in primary education for the first time this year. There was also praise for the Ministry of Education, led by Emmerling's predecessor in Vienna, Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS). The ministry is now providing funds for German language support based on needs, emphasized the city councilor.
521 full-time equivalents can now be deployed here. That is more than twice as many as before. "You can see that a catch-up race is taking place in Vienna," Emmerling emphasized. The summer German courses were also almost fully booked. This shows that demand and need are high, she noted. This year, prospective first graders were also able to take advantage of the offer.
Focus on Mental Health
Another focus is on the mental health of students. In the coming school year, in addition to the existing offerings, there will be 600 workshops as part of the so-called Mental Health Days. Topics such as bullying, eating disorders, mobile phone addiction, performance pressure, depression, suicidality, and anxiety will be addressed there.
In response to the Graz rampage, a guideline for educators and school administrations has also been developed. This includes recommendations for action in different crisis situations. However, there will be no structural or organizational measures such as access controls, said Emmerling.
A special focus is also placed on reading promotion and democracy education. There is also an intention to deal more intensively with financial education to avoid financial pitfalls for young people as much as possible, it was stated.
Opposition Still Sees Deficiencies in Vienna
Vienna's Green Party leader Judith Pühringer was unimpressed. The city councilor boasted that every school child receives lessons at the start of the school year, she marveled: "That should be the minimum requirement." Pühringer identified a learning line instead of a learning curve with the NEOS. There are still major problems with extraordinary students and staff shortages.
The Vienna ÖVP missed clear information about the start of the school year. It is uncertain whether all teaching positions can be filled on the first day of school or not, criticized club chairman Harald Zierfuß. The application window in August is late. That hiring takes time should not be a surprise for the education directorate, he said. Zierfuß identified "chaos in Vienna's educational administration."
FPÖ club chairman Maximilian Krauss spoke of a "shockingly low level" of Vienna's education policy. The NEOS have not managed to establish a sustainable strategy for schools in view of the lack of teachers, increasing pressure in compulsory schools, or the failure in integration. "Instead, they already celebrate it as a success if teachers are standing in front of the classes on the first day of school," he complained.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.