All-day-school: Government is still discussing the details
N.N., www.wienerzeitung.at (November 27, 2012)
Claudia Schmied Photo: Reuters
The extension of the all-day-school reform in Austria is still subject of discussion among the governing political parties SPÖ (Social Democratic Party of Austria) and ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party). The reform should have already passed the Council of Ministers, but the SPÖ refused to agree with the ÖVP’s draft law of the reform. Claudia Schmied, Minister of Education (SPÖ) criticizes that the ÖVP makes demands in return like ethics classes or a second compulsory kindergarten year for those who are in need. Furthermore, they demand that parents, teachers, principals, and students should be allowed to decide whether they want to implement an all-day-school-reform at their school. However, the SPÖ wants to stick with the rule that as soon as 15 students state the need for care in the afternoons, the school has to change into an all-day-school-model. Schmied is convinced that the decision nevertheless will be made this year. “There is no way around the all-day-school,” she says and points out that she will continue the negotiations with the ÖVP.
For more information:
All day school plans take shape
On the school reform debate in Austria over the past year: School Reform: Austria Petitions for Change
On teacher education in Austria: International experience as part of teacher education
International Education News 