The reading skills of Austrian students are in the middle range compared to Europe. According to research, one in five primary school children can only solve simple reading tasks. A quarter of 15-year-olds are particularly bad readers. The Ministry of Education now wants to take countermeasures.
Minister of Education Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) emphasized that reading is the basis for further educational life and participation in society. However, schools alone cannot increase reading skills and motivation. That is why the ministry wants to promote reading aloud in families, in order to encourage a love of reading. In addition, kindergartens would play an important role.
Teachers must now continuously improve students’ reading skills up to Matura. Examples of this are reading tandems in which older and younger students read to each other, reading moments during class or digital reading. There are handouts and tips from the ministry, as well as further training from teacher training universities (PH).
Class lecture freely selectable
For example, at the Hans Christian Andersen primary school in Vienna-Ottakring, there are godparents who help people learn to read. The teaching material can be freely chosen, so that there is something for every taste. Reading evenings are also held and the “Reading Swan” is awarded twice a year for special achievements. Digital reading, where children can immediately look up unknown terms or have them translated, should also be used to reach students who cannot read.
Austrian reading day on March 21
Without the cooperation of the parents it would still not be possible, director Julia Gaspar said at a press conference on Tuesday. Reading aloud is important for reading skills, especially in another native language.
March 21 is Austrian Reading Day again. This time the Ministry of Education has entered into a new partnership with echo Medienhaus. The goal is 10,000 lectures throughout the country, including in kindergartens, schools, libraries, but also homes for seniors. According to general secretary of the community association Walter Leiss, who is supporting the campaign, only one in five children between the ages of one and eight are now read to. Many come into contact with books for the first time in kindergarten.
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.
