Relief Package for Teachers Should Now Come After All
For instance, the introduction of the relief package for compulsory schools, already approved by the National Council, is to be implemented after all, the Ministry of Education announced in a press release. The planned saving of 50 million euros is now to be realised elsewhere in the department, it was said in response to an APA inquiry.
An agreement has been reached with the Ministry of Finance and the coalition negotiators. Where exactly the funds are to be raised still needs to be determined, it was emphasised. The package, which is intended to relieve teachers at compulsory schools (primarily primary and middle schools) through pedagogical-administrative professionals such as administrators, is therefore planned to start in autumn 2025 as planned. Only the originally planned pilot phase in the current school year will be cancelled.
Compulsory Schools to Get Administrators
The measure, decided just before the election in September, is intended to create the new function of a "pedagogical-administrative professional". They are to relieve school principals in the organisation of lessons (timetable creation, subject allocation etc.) and communication with parents and authorities (e.g. child and youth welfare), just like the administrators at the AHS and BMHS. Half an hour per week per class is planned, with the responsible teachers receiving compensation for additional services.
With the introduction of the measure, its financing was also decided, it was argued in the Ministry of Education. "After long negotiations with the union last year, we were able to successfully agree on a comprehensive relief package for teachers. This package noticeably relieves teachers in their daily work, especially from administrative work," said Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) in the press release. "There will be no cuts or a revocation in this package."
Wiederkehr Detects Great Confusion
Vienna's Education Councilor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) complained that after the recent announcement that the planned support package for schools should come after all, contrary to other reports, there is great confusion in the educational landscape. After all, Wiederkehr pointed out, it is not even known who will be the new Minister of Education.
He criticized that as part of the blue-black austerity package, an additional 15 percent, a total of 1.1 billion euros, should be saved in the ministries. Vienna, however, is expanding its support for schools, he assured. In recent years, all compulsory schools in Vienna have received a school secretariat. According to Wiederkehr, these will be further expanded for the large Viennese schools from the next school year: At around 60 schools, the school secretariats will be available full-time instead of part-time.
"Different reports about savings are being circulated in the media. I can only appeal to all those responsible in the future federal government: Hands off savings in the education sector, because the future of our children and young people is decided in schools and kindergartens", Wiederkehr stated. Teachers and school administrations need to be relieved, not burdened with additional bureaucratic effort, he found.
(APA/Red)
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