In a press conference on Thursday, liberal education spokesman Hermann Brückl called instead for the creation of educational goals that can also be achieved outside of public schools and in a shorter time. The newly developed blue education program also provides for compulsory German before starting school and better conflict management in schools.
In general, Brückl painted a bleak picture of the Austrian educational landscape: For decades, domestic education policy has focused more on “equalization” than on individuality and performance. A lack of support from higher authorities leads to intolerable conditions in local schools. Among other things, a lack of knowledge of German not only led to poor performance, but also to conflicts and even bullying and violence.
Brückl wants to contrast “inflated” curricula and what the Blues see as a misguided immigration policy in time for the upcoming election campaign with his party’s new education program. “We libertarians want compulsory education instead of compulsory schooling,” is one demand. Public schools should continue to be the central place for education. The priority, however, is to achieve these goals for students, “regardless of where they do it.”
No “sitting out” the compulsory school years
When asked, Brückl said who controls the achievement of these educational goals still needs to be worked out. For some, however, their school career might then be significantly shorter than is currently necessary: ”Anyone who makes it in eight years has simply fulfilled their educational goal.” It would then no longer be necessary to “sit out” the nine years of compulsory schooling. The final definition of the educational goals should be made by the target educational institutions.
The focus in educational policy continues to be on language skills. “We are of the opinion that German should simply be a prerequisite for starting school,” said Brückl. German support classes are not as bad as some people make them out to be. It is also important for the Blues to have a daily reading lesson for elementary school children.
The FPÖ wants to counter the “ever-increasing potential for violence and conflict” in schools with “proper conflict management”, which was already called for during the ÖVP-FPÖ government. In addition to improved training for teachers, “clear rules for the permanent removal of aggressive and behaviorally suspicious students” to so-called “time-out classes” should also play a role.
