Education and pandemic – Education minister leaves Salzburg at a loss

First the tour of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, then a visit to the Kuchl Wood Technology Center: Education Minister Martin Polaschek was on the road in Salzburg on Tuesday. However, he had no time for questions about the Covid schedule for next school year or about the strategy against the teacher shortage. The ministry had previously announced that it would come up with a Covid variant plan for next school year.

Variants are unclear
However, this will not be published until the end of August, so two weeks before school starts. State Education Councilor Daniela Gutschi has an explanation for this: “It is just not clear in which direction the coronavirus is developing. It is unclear if a new variant will be added and how it will behave – which is why the federal government is waiting to publish it. We in Salzburg are certainly well prepared.” Daniela Gutschi’s top priority is to prevent nationwide school closures.

Instead of 100 but 80 euros
A decision by the Minister of Education is currently being met with incomprehension: the federal government has reduced the value of the school starter package. The Packerl helps socially disadvantaged families provide their children with school supplies. Until a year ago, those affected could collect packages with school backpacks, pencil cases, craft supplies and the like worth 100 euros from the Red Cross in Salzburg. As of this year, this system no longer exists – instead, families can get a special voucher of 80 euros per child for retail.

“It is completely incomprehensible at the moment to forget those who already have little. That is a slap in the face to those affected,” says SPÖ education spokeswoman Stefanie Mösl. Now the Salzburg SPÖ is trying to keep the value of the vouchers at 100 euros, at least in Salzburg. “Of course I support this project. would be a serious mistake if we didn’t support these families now,” says Daniela Gutschi (ÖVP).