“In view of the serious problems, Deputy Mayor Wiederkehr can no longer duck out with mini-measures such as summer German courses. Wiederkehr must present fundamental reforms and finally ensure that working conditions and pay for German language support staff are significantly improved, otherwise nothing will change in the long term,” said Julia Malle and Felix Stadler, the education spokespersons for the Vienna Greens, on the occasion of the current figures from the office from Education City Councilor Christoph Wiederkehr. The numbers prove once again that the lack of German language skills in Vienna’s elementary schools is the result of a major system failure. 44.6 percent of first graders in Vienna’s elementary schools cannot follow lessons, even though the majority of these children were born in Austria.
Fixed language support staff
“The vast majority of elementary school children who cannot follow lessons due to language problems had previously been in a Viennese kindergarten for around two years. This shows that there is a systemic failure in teaching German at kindergarten age. It is all the more urgent that Wiederkehr finally reforms the promotion of German,” said Malle and Stadler.
Once again, the Viennese Greens are calling for permanent language support staff for every kindergarten location that has the corresponding need. “For language acquisition at kindergarten age, a trusting relationship between the child and the language teacher is necessary. “Language support staff are currently poorly paid and jump from location to location for just a few hours, meaning that sustainable language acquisition is not possible,” criticize the two education spokespeople.
Lack of mix in schools
The Vienna Greens are also once again drawing attention to the lack of diversity in Vienna’s schools. “How is a child supposed to learn the language when hardly anyone around speaks in a way that the child can learn it?” ask Malle and Stadler and refer to the Green Education Package presented at the start of school, which contains a concrete concept for more mix in schools is included.
Injustices are getting worse every day
“The consequences of pink education policy in Vienna are devastating and those who suffer are children, parents and teachers. After four years of Neos in Vienna, the injustices have unfortunately only worsened,” Malle and Stadler concluded.
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