2023-09-11 18:43:36
Are the controversial German classes effective? School autonomy is the key to guaranteeing German learning, according to Green education spokeswoman Hamann and sociologist Güngör.
The separate German classes were introduced under the Kurz-Strache (Black-Blue) government. In the newsroom LIVE, anchor Thomas Mohr, Green Party education spokesperson Sibylle Hamann and sociologist and integration expert Kenan Güngör speak at PULS 24.
The Greens actually want to abolish the German support classes, “but that didn’t quite work out with the ÖVP.” Learning German is extremely important, but “of course” it is better to be integrative with other children (“integrative rather than separate”), said education spokeswoman Hamann.
But the alternative model to the German class is not a solution either, according to education researcher Güngör. If the children come into a class without knowledge of German, they might “experience social isolation and self-devaluation”, the latter if the child feels that everyone can keep up with the material except themselves. It has to be checked empirically once more and once more to see what really makes a difference.
School autonomy as a solution
Hamann and Güngör agree that, due to their autonomy, the school locations can also decide for themselves which strategies are effective for learning German. “There is a huge difference whether I’m talking regarding six-year-olds or 16-year-olds.” The same applies to the differences between small villages or districts with a large linguistic diversity, says Hamann.
The shortage of teachers is also an issue in this area of the education system. Measures such as team teaching would make sense, says Güngör, but there is often a lack of staff for this. Hamann also sees it that way, but locations with difficult conditions would be provided with more resources.
Austria’s education system is shaped by the origins of the children. Much of the children’s success depends on the parents’ level of education, says Güngor. The increased involvement of parents is also becoming increasingly apparent in the education system – if parents help with homework, then their “educational performance” would be evaluated, not that of the children. This also increases inequality.
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