Third dialogue platform of autochthonous Austrian ethnic groups in parliament on the topic of education
Vienna (PK) – The languages of the ethnic groups in Austria should not only be preserved, but also further developed and seen as a treasure, said National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka today at the “Dialogue Platform of Autochthonous Ethnic Groups in Parliament”. During a visit to the Komenský School, he was particularly fascinated by seeing how students were able to switch between two languages fluently. This language preservation must be maintained, emphasized Sobotka. Today, for the third time, representatives of all parliamentary factions as well as the chairmen of the minority advisory councils in the Federal Chancellery met in parliament as part of a dialogue platform to exchange ideas on topics relevant to ethnic groups.
Education as a root for maintaining cultural diversity
As in previous years, the topic of education was the focus of today’s meeting. This is no coincidence, as education is a root for maintaining cultural diversity, said Parliament Director Harald Dossi and invited an outlook on the coming anniversary year. The year 2025 will bring together three historical events that can be viewed together in a large historical overview: the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, 70 years of the State Treaty and 30 years of membership in the European Union. The year 2025 will therefore provide an opportunity to look at initiatives and events from the perspective of the autochthonous ethnic groups in Austria.
Renewed interest in minority languages
The decline in speakers of minority languages in Austria is worrying, said linguist Brigitta Busch (University of Vienna and University of Stellenbosch) in her introductory remarks. However, there is currently increasing interest in the re-appropriation of ethnic group languages, said Busch. In recent years, various initiatives have been taken to expand the range of languages available. Multilingual elementary education is of great importance. It is important to secure existing initiatives in the long term, says Busch.
Nadja Kramer (ARGE of private bilingual and multilingual kindergartens) and Bernard Sadovnik (Mayor of the municipality of Globasnitz/Globasnica & Chairman of the Community of Carinthian Slovenes) reported on “Bilingual and multilingual care in the elementary education sector using the example of Carinthia”. Slovenian as a colloquial language is only used sporadically in Carinthia, but many parents who were denied the opportunity to learn the languages of their ethnic group in educational institutions now want to give this opportunity back to their own children, said Bernard Sadovnik. It is crucial that children can regain the language of their grandparents – otherwise Slovenian will disappear as a colloquial language in Carinthia in the next few decades. Clear legal framework conditions are therefore needed to ensure the promotion of the languages of the ethnic groups in elementary education. Sadovnik said that well-trained pedagogical specialists are also needed to promote the language of the ethnic groups, and these should be financed by the federal government.
Karl Hanzl, chairman of the Komenský school association and chairman of the ethnic group advisory board, spoke on the topic of “Continuous educational offerings for all autochthonous ethnic group languages in Vienna, based on the example of the Komenský school”. The Komenský school association includes private bilingual school institutions with public rights. Children and young people between the ages of two and 18 are looked after and taught in Czech or Slovak and German. Hanzl emphasized that the Komenský school association’s offerings have constantly developed. The most important asset has always been the trust of parents and students.
Chairmen of the ethnic group advisory councils share the desire for further development of the rights of the ethnic groups
The representatives of Austria’s six autochthonous ethnic groups (Czechs, Slovaks, Croatians, Hungarians, Slovenians, Roma and Sinti) were largely pleased that their concerns were being listened to in parliament . This was not always the case, as the chairman of the advisory board of the Hungarian ethnic group emphasized. The representative of the Czech ethnic group expressed his hope that the dialogue platform, which has been taking place for three years, will continue beyond the coming elections.
With regard to the education system, the advisory board chairmen of all ethnic groups identified a clear need for action. The binding of the rights of the ethnic groups to the traditional settlement areas is a regulation “from the monarchy” that no longer corresponds to today’s needs for mobility, as the representative of the Croatians explained. The Slovakian advisory board chairman emphasized that understanding as an ethnic group must extend to all federal states. The Slovenian ethnic group demanded the appropriate legal framework so that the ethnic groups could continue to exist. Little has happened in the last 30 years, particularly in the area of elementary education, and a “sobering conclusion” can therefore be drawn.
Parliamentary factions take up the demands of the ethnic groups
Nikolaus Berlakovich (ÖVP) explained that his group had always represented the concept that the languages of the ethnic groups must be offered consistently “from kindergarten to university”. However, especially in the elementary education area, its implementation is “backbreaking work”. The ethnic group politics generally means “drilling hard boards,” Berlakovich referred to the Carinthian town sign conflict. He thanked the representatives of the ethnic groups all the more for their efforts to make progress and pleaded for solutions to the education issue, “at the latest in the next legislative period”.
On behalf of the SPÖ, Christian Drobits emphasized the importance of diversity and different languages. It must be possible to secure this diversity as a “social and cultural enrichment” for future generations. To achieve this, it is necessary to decouple the ethnic group-specific educational offerings from the traditional settlement areas, Drobits agreed with the demands of the ethnic group representatives.
FPÖ Federal Councilor Isabella Theuermann expressed her appreciation for the representatives of the ethnic groups who have made outstanding contributions to preserving their languages as the “heart of every culture”. In Austria, the ethnic groups enjoyed a legal status that “can only be dreamed of” in other countries. In this respect, Theuermann saw Austria as a model for all of Europe. In general, Austria should act more as a “bridge builder,” she argued.
From elementary education to teacher training, an ethnic group-specific offer must be ensured, said Eva Blimlinger from the Greens. She spoke out in favor of a “de-nationalization” of the relevant legal framework, which would have to be regulated nationwide. In addition, in order to preserve the identity of the ethnic groups, it is important to promote not only their historical cultural heritage, but also contemporary artistic life, stated Blimlinger.
NEOS mandater Michael Bernhard spoke out in favor of adapting the private school law in order to better meet the needs of the ethnic groups. He also criticized the connection of the rights of the ethnic groups to the settlement areas, as no one should be “locked up” in their regions. In general, Bernhard criticized the fact that politicians like to make “friendly noses” towards the ethnic groups without any real progress. However, he saw the dialogue platform as an important step that could enable further thinking. (End) bea/wit
A NOTICE: Photos from this event can be found in Parliament web portal.
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