2024-02-24 07:51:58
The Russian war of aggression on its neighboring country Ukraine, which has been going on for two years, has also resulted in numerous displaced children and young people having to be integrated into the domestic school system. According to the Ministry of Education, there were 12,280 nationwide. The frontrunner here was Vienna with around 4,200 children in compulsory schooling, followed by Lower Austria with almost 2,800. The challenges were overcome, among other things, with additional resources.
Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) emphasized to the APA that those responsible in schools and educational institutions have done an incredible amount to ensure that Ukrainian students are accepted into schools in the best possible way. He wanted to thank you for that. It was also possible to ensure support. “As Minister of Education, it was particularly important to me that Ukrainian educators might easily work as assistants in our schools.”
“We have also mobilized significant additional resources,” emphasized Polaschek. Around 50 million euros were used, of which 10 million euros were used to promote German lessons.
The largest proportion of those affected was recorded in Vienna. Immediately following the Russian attack became known, they agreed to take in refugees, as Vice Mayor and City Councilor for Education Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) emphasized in a statement sent to the APA. School and kindergarten places have been made available. Currently, around 2,500 children from the country are being taught at Vienna’s public compulsory schools, the majority of them in elementary schools – but also in middle schools, special schools or polytechnic schools.
In the elementary education sector, 2,682 municipal kindergarten places were created for Ukrainian children. There are currently just under 1,700 who attend a municipal or private kindergarten.
A Ukrainian education center was also set up. This was in operation from April 2022 to the end of August 2023. Around 100 students alone were successfully prepared for the Ukrainian online Matura (“National Multi-Subject Test”) as part of the project, it said. According to the city, around a third of them said they wanted to study in Ukraine.
The educational center’s offerings also included German courses, including a special offer in the summer. Around 900 kids between the ages of six and 14 registered for the latter.
According to the town hall, extensive activities in the area of child and youth work were also undertaken. As part of a psychosocial offer, discussions regarding the war were and are being held. Here, those who had to go through war experiences themselves are supported with particular sensitivity, explained Wiederkehr. One tries to counteract possible retraumatization and, if possible, to ensure psychological or psychotherapeutic support.
“The interim results presented today show that Vienna is a cosmopolitan city that is characterized by an enormous willingness to help,” said Wiederkehr. He also thanked everyone involved. And he promised: “We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that those Ukrainian children and young people who live here can have good prospects for their future.”
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