Matura: Polaschek proclaims finish of pre-scientific work

The indicators are pointing to alter within the Matura: Immediately, Tuesday, Training Minister Martin Polaschek (VP) surprisingly introduced a reform. “We’ll abolish the obligatory pre-scientific work,” he defined following a gathering with a council of consultants appointed to take care of the problem.

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In whole, round 17,000 college students graduate from a normal secondary faculty (AHS) yearly. Till now, they needed to write a obligatory pre-scientific paper, or VWA for brief, in preparation for later college research. If Polaschek has his manner, the subsequent class, which graduates in 2025, will now not have to put in writing VWAs. As a substitute, there would be the choice of taking an oral examination in one other topic sooner or later. Seventh-graders who’ve already chosen their matter can full their VWA – except they like to modify to a different oral topic.

There will likely be no adjustments on the vocational excessive faculties, nonetheless: the diploma thesis will likely be retained there. The ultimate theses on the vocational center faculties will likely be abolished sooner or later, which is able to have an effect on 10,000 to fifteen,000 younger individuals per 12 months. This reform of the college laws has not but been determined: plenary classes will happen in the beginning of July, and Polaschek has till then to implement the plans.

Want of the AHS union

With this initiative, he’s assembly the wants of the representatives of the AHS academics: in February, they’d referred to as for an finish to the obligatory pre-scientific work within the Matura. Their reasoning was that the probabilities of synthetic intelligence make it more and more troublesome to test the creation of such work.
It was additionally criticized that the VWA was socially unfair. Whereas dad and mom with a better stage of schooling may assist their youngsters, college students from socially deprived backgrounds have been deprived.

The VWA was launched in 2012. The concept on the time was to arrange college students for college and educational work. Highschool graduates ought to be taught to formulate content material themselves, to analysis and to use quotation guidelines.

“Abolition shouldn’t be additional growth”

Inexperienced schooling spokeswoman Sibylle Hamann is in favor of reform. “The VWA is getting on in years. There may be huge potential for enchancment,” she advised the OÖN. It might not make sense to summarize current literature as has been completed to this point. “I advocate an impartial small analysis venture.” The scholars may analysis the historical past of their home and the residents, she provides for example. She has not but obtained any ideas from the ministry: “We’re all the time open to enhancements – even shortly. However merely abolishing the VWA shouldn’t be an additional growth.”

The tone amongst Higher Austrian principals is analogous, as an OÖN broadcast exhibits. Florian Koblinger, director of the Brucknergymnasium in Wels, is ambivalent in regards to the introduced abolition of pre-scientific work. He noticed a possibility in adapting the event course of and thereby introducing college students to working accurately with synthetic intelligence. AI is not going to disappear from on a regular basis faculty life, so it is very important increase consciousness of vital questioning of solutions and sources, he’s satisfied.

Florian Bachofner-Mayr, director of the Werndlpark highschool in Steyr, shouldn’t be proud of the transfer. Amid all of the standardization and centralization, the VWA is the one one the place college students can nonetheless resolve what the subject is.

“Can’t run away from AI”

The expertise with VWAs in his faculty has been superb, and the suggestions from college students has additionally been very optimistic. “Working away” from AI is pointless, stated Bachofner-Mayr. Using AI within the creation of VWAs is already permitted, however like different sources, it should be recognized: “We’re very involved with instructing our college students how you can use AI sensibly and what they should look out for.”

Oliver Vitouch, President of the College Convention, additionally reacted skeptically: In fact, extra freedom of selection is healthier, however AI shouldn’t be the rationale for abolishing the VWA requirement. AI will change into a pure a part of on a regular basis life and work, so faculties ought to follow how you can use it competently at an early stage.