Austria-wide demonstrations for reform and against change for recreational educators. Experts see a huge need for action in the field of education: “The problems start in kindergarten.”
Thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday for reforms in the education system.
Protests lead to discussion about shortcomings in the education system
They also protested a reform of the recreational educator profession. In the future, they should not only be responsible for organizing free time, but also take on learning time and help in the classroom. For this they would have to have a HAVO diploma, but at the same time the duration of their education will be halved from two to one semester. Experts see the protests as the start of a debate about the shortcomings in the Austrian education system.
Kindergarten is key
“The basic problem starts with the teachers, that has not changed,” says education expert Andreas Salcher in an interview with “Krone”. You could solve many problems in kindergarten, “but elementary school teachers are poorly paid, the job has a bad image, many don’t even get into the profession”.
In most institutions there is one teacher and one assistant in a group of 21 children. In Scandinavia that is only four to six children per teacher. Elementary school teachers can no longer catch up on what they missed, Salcher says.
Education policy is driven by ideology
Maximilian Schulyok adds that there is finally a need for solidarity and a social consensus that our future lies in education. “Education policy in Austria is often discussed ideologically. We must finally put the political trench war behind us, talk less about the past and think more about the future.” The protest is therefore “good and right” to start a discourse.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
