The coalition is outwardly going a step additional: On Wednesday, Schooling Minister Martin Polaschek (VP) and Inexperienced Celebration chief Sigi Maurer offered plans for a reform of pre-scientific work (VWA). The draft legislation is to be handed within the Nationwide Council originally of July, and the adjustments are to return into drive within the coming faculty 12 months 2024/25. They have an effect on round 17,000 highschool graduates yearly.
Till now, AHS college students needed to write a pre-scientific paper of 40,000 to 60,000 characters on the finish of their faculty profession. This was seen as preparation for college. The AHS academics’ union known as for it to be abolished as a result of the usage of synthetic intelligence meant that it was not potential to find out whether or not the paper had been written by the coed themselves. There was additionally criticism that kids from educationally deprived backgrounds have been deprived as a result of they didn’t obtain any assist from their dad and mom with the VWA.
Politicians have now responded to the truth that the VWA is not updated. It is going to be changed by a remaining venture that enables for utterly new media codecs. “Sooner or later, will probably be potential to utterly rethink the VWA,” stated Polaschek. “Multimedia initiatives, podcasts and movies may also be potential.” Digital and analogue will be mixed. The ultimate venture should be documented and offered accordingly.
Creativity increase for the AHS
Polaschek had deliberate to abolish the obligatory VWA. As an alternative, the VWA ought to solely be voluntary: those that didn’t need to write one ought to take an oral examination in one other topic as a substitute. However the Greens put the brakes on this.
Proper originally of the talk, Inexperienced training spokeswoman Sibylle Hamann had spoken out in favor of scholars writing their very own small venture as their remaining paper. Now she was happy concerning the reform: “This can be a creativity increase for the AHS. The brand new remaining paper sharpens expertise corresponding to creativity, interdisciplinary pondering, communication and media expertise,” she stated. Sooner or later, college students may use synthetic intelligence very consciously.
Now there’s a transition section till the 2028/29 faculty 12 months. Within the subsequent 4 years there would be the possibility to decide on between a number of prospects. College students can write a traditional VWA, they’ll create a inventive remaining paper in settlement with their supervising instructor, or they’ll take an oral or written examination as a part of the Matura as an alternative. The choice for the approaching faculty 12 months should be introduced by September thirtieth.
Throughout these 4 years, the training authorities should be knowledgeable of what number of examinations there are per 12 months group, and faculties must be inspired to encourage inventive remaining papers throughout this era.
On the vocational excessive faculties, the place round 23,000 college students graduate every year, the diploma thesis will stay in its present type as a result of it has confirmed to be efficient. On the vocational center faculties, nevertheless, the ultimate theses can be abolished completely.
The SPÖ and the Chamber of Labor seen the reform as basically constructive. Neos spokeswoman Martina Künsberg Sarre was happy that the VWA was being additional developed as an alternative of being abolished out of concern of synthetic intelligence.
Local weather within the coalition
Polaschek and Maurer have been additionally requested concerning the local weather within the coalition on Wednesday. The Council of Ministers was, as at all times, “very constructive,” stated Polaschek. Maurer was assured that the coalition would work on additional initiatives.
Writer
Annette Gantner
Editor Home Coverage
Annette Gantner
