"Plan Z": Wiederkehr Wants to Transform School "for Real Life"

The NEOS had promised a catch-up race in education and had already set many things in motion, he emphasized. In times of profound change, however, catching up is not enough. Wiederkehr therefore announced a "Plan Z" to put the system "in the fast lane." The goal: "A school that prepares for real life."

In the more than eight months since taking office, he sees daily how much commitment the staff in kindergartens and schools show for the children and young people, how much joy the students have in their school time, and how parents help through their commitment to make the school even better, Wiederkehr optimistically began his half-hour keynote speech. Where things do not work well, they respond with measures such as the expansion of language support and school psychology, reduction of bureaucracy, or more money for locations with particularly difficult conditions.

Not Yet a School for Life

When he asks himself after this interim assessment whether the school prepares children and young people for life, "the honest answer" is no, the minister admitted in front of around 160 young people, experts, and leaders from the education sector in the audience. The world is undergoing a fundamental change due to technological revolutions like AI, challenges such as democracy-threatening disinformation, and global crises from climate change to migration. This also has a massive impact on what education must achieve.

He wants to move away from an "old, sluggish education system" with outdated curricula and rigid structures, away from rote learning towards creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, digital and social skills, Wiederkehr emphasized. Young people should become "responsible, creative, and also happy adults." Education is a community project, and besides the school, parents and the community must also take responsibility. He also demanded performance from the children and young people. This requires effort and discipline but is rewarded with personal independence and social participation.

Wiederkehr: "Plan Z" to be Ready by March

Together with experts and "the people in the education system," Wiederkehr wants to develop a "Plan Z - Z for the future of our children" in the coming months and "bring pedagogy into the 21st century." "This cannot be just a superficial renovation, but must be a complete overhaul," he emphasized. The "Plan Z" is more than a chapter in the government program; it is "a vision and at the same time its implementation path," with some aspects potentially being put into practice quickly and others only after the end of this legislative period.

In his planned overhaul, Wiederkehr expects discussions, for example, about the definition of "real life" and the role of school or the value of (general) education compared to training. He plans to present his "Plan Z" by March, with implementation starting in the second quarter.

The minister wants to start in kindergarten with the question of what and how should be taught there. His "starting points" for the school are reminiscent of well-known NEOS demands or the government program: Schools should have more autonomy, and teachers should have more time for the children thanks to less bureaucracy. Changes in teacher training should ensure that only those who are truly suitable teach. Wiederkehr wants to update textbooks more quickly in the future and supplement them with learning apps, and the opportunities of individualized learning through AI should also be a topic.

"Hard Shoulder" instead of "Lifting Wings"

Wiederkehr wants to "declutter" the recently revised curricula and focus on new subjects and the "orientation towards fundamental competencies of the future." What can be dispensed with will be "one of the discussions of the coming months."

Wiederkehr's "Plan Z" was criticized by the opposition even before it was presented. FPÖ education spokesperson Hermann Brückl saw the minister continuing "on the educational policy hard shoulder" in a press release. Schools, which are increasingly struggling with bureaucracy, discipline problems, and students without German language skills, need "finally real reforms" and not PR shows and fairy tale hours with empty phrases. For Green education spokesperson Sigrid Maurer, the NEOS have given up their claim to "lift the wings" of all children. The minister completely ignores the inequality of opportunity in Austria's education system in his keynote speech. Instead of producing patient paper with new curricula, he should better relieve schools with administrative staff and school social work.

(APA/Red)

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