2023-12-01 19:24:35
Students from Carinthia and Lower Austria took on the role of representatives for a day
Vienna (PK) – Five 9th grade school classes from Carinthia and Lower Austria had the opportunity today to experience the everyday life of members of parliament as part of the Youth Parliament. At the invitation of National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka, they discussed a proposed law on the subject of performance assessment and grading. As in real everyday parliamentary life, they formed clubs for this purpose. They then discussed the corresponding draft law and motions in the committees and in the plenary session. After this opinion was formed, the votes were taken to determine whether there was a sufficient majority among the students for the initiatives. Parliament staff were at the young people’s side throughout the day to support them in their work. They were also advised by the National Council members Carina Reiter (ÖVP), Elisabeth Feichtinger (SPÖ), Hermann Weratschnig (Greens) and Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS) as well as the Vienna NEOS Federal Councilor Karl-Arthur Arlamovsky. The selected FPÖ MP was unable to take part for health reasons. The third President of the National Council, Norbert Hofer, led the parliamentary session. The participants were welcomed this morning by Parliamentary Director Harald Dossi.
A delegation from the Ukrainian parliament, which is currently visiting the parliament for an exchange on democracy education, followed the youth parliament.
Debate regarding grading and performance assessment
In the plenary debate, the students discussed the advantages and disadvantages of a draft law on performance assessment. They discussed the proposed innovations in the performance assessment of students by teachers. The “MPs” pointed out the new challenges presented by artificial intelligence, which would make performance assessment more difficult. But it is important to learn how to deal with this new technology, emphasized one speaker.
In conclusion, some members of the youth parliament felt that more importance should be given to performance in on-site lessons and oral examinations. A speaker countered this by saying that introverted students would be disadvantaged as a result. In return, the students found homework exercises to be less important. After compulsory schooling ends, these should only be voluntary.
Some “deputies” also emphasized the autonomy of individual schools. They should be able to decide for themselves regarding the extent of the use of AI.
At the end of the debate, the law was passed by a majority, taking into account the amendments drawn up in the committee.
Initiatives for free tablets, introduction of homework sessions and promotion of social skills adopted
The young MPs also put forward several initiatives through motions for resolutions. The calls for free laptops to be provided to students found a majority, as did the introduction of homework lessons for doing homework together. The majority of “deputies” also supported the expansion of offerings to promote social skills among students. However, a motion for a resolution calling for practice units to be incorporated into lessons in order to consolidate the learning material and reduce tutoring hours remained in the minority.
Third National Council President Hofer and elected officials praise the debate
At the end of the plenary debate in the Youth Parliament, the Third President of the National Council, Norbert Hofer, and the participating representatives thanked the young people for the shared exchange and praised the debate.
Norbert Hofer appealed to young people to get involved in the community – whether in the community, in the youth organization or in a party. When getting involved in parties, you should not only look at the people involved, but especially at their programs and content.
Democracy cannot be taken for granted and democracy means listening, discussing and finding a common denominator, emphasized Carina Reiter (ÖVP).
It is important to live democracy, Elisabeth Feichtinger (SPÖ) appealed to young people to remain courageous and say what they think.
In the youth parliament, the students gained an insight into how complex opinion-forming is and how the representatives try to act for the good of the country, said Hermann Weratschnig (Greens).
NEOS Federal Councilor Karl-Arthur Arlamovsky from Vienna also pointed out the complexity of reconciling many opinions and appealed to young people to take advantage of the parliament’s other democracy education offerings such as the democracy workshop.
About the Youth Parliament: Making democratic decision-making processes understandable
The aim of the Youth Parliament is to make democratic decision-making processes understandable for young people and at the same time to provide a deeper understanding of parliamentary processes. As in real everyday parliamentary life, clubs are formed, draft laws are discussed in committees and then discussed and voted on in the plenary session. Finding alliances and compromises across club boundaries or convincing “political opponents” of your own view – all of this is part of the day, as is preparing speeches or answering questions from interested journalists. Members of the National Council and parliamentary staff are at the young people’s side throughout the day to support them in their work.
School classes in the 9th grade from Carinthia and Lower Austria were able to apply to take part in today’s youth parliament until mid-October 2023. The prerequisite was a class contribution on the question “What does democracy mean to you and your classmates?”. 772 students applied with a total of 31 entries. The BG/BRG Villach St. Martin, BG/BRG Villach Peraustraße, PTS Leonardo da Vinci from Klagenfurt, HLPS Gaming and the private high school Klosterneuburg were selected.
Further information regarding the Youth Parliament is available at www.reininsparlament.at available. (End) shhh
A NOTICE: Photos from this event as well as one Review of past events you find in Parliament web portal . The plenary session of the Youth Parliament is available as video-on-demand in the Parliament’s media library available.
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