The National Council unanimously approves a package of measures for schools to prevent extremism
Vienna (PK) – Vienna (PK) -In today’s National Council meeting a package of measures was introduced Prevention of extremism in schools decided unanimously. An additional motion submitted under this agenda item to prosecute sexual and gender-based violence by Hamas terrorists was also unanimously approved. One was decided by a majority Federal-state agreement to continue the support program for people without sufficient basic education or to obtain a compulsory school qualification in the years 2024 to 2028. The majority of MPs also voted in favor of State Prize for Adult Education to be awarded every two years again from 2024. The initiative to re-award this prize goes back to a request from the SPÖ.
The MPs also discussed the collective report of the Committee for Petitions and Citizens’ Initiatives, which was accepted unanimously.
A request for a deadline submitted by NEOS at the meeting aimed to set a deadline of January 31, 2024 for the Justice Committee to approve the NEOS request regarding an independent federal public prosecutor (361/A(E)) to treat. He remained in the minority in the vote.
Extremism prevention package for schools
A unanimous decision was made Package of measures for schools to specifically combat anti-Semitism and to prevent extremism from the left, right or Islamist side.
The motion for a resolution to take measures to effectively combat anti-Semitism and prevent extremism is a preamble that the FPÖ can of course support, but the motion contains points with which the FPÖ does not agree, said Hermann Brückl (FPÖ). The FPÖ does not want non-school organizations to be brought into schools as part of these measures. In addition, there have already been similar packages of measures in the past. Brückl therefore submitted a motion for a resolution for a “9-point plan in response to the increasing potential for violence and conflict in schools”, which has the cornerstones of prevention, conflict resilience and de-escalation. The motion did not find a majority and was therefore rejected.
There is a need to move away from “black and white,” said Rudolf Taschner (ÖVP) and spoke out in favor of negotiating opinions in a meaningful dialogue. There is no need for a new subject in schools, because this type of thinking should be taught in every subject. Even if you are convinced of something, you still have to carry doubts within yourself and accept other opinions, says Taschner. With regard to the Middle East conflict, which triggers a lot of emotions, it is particularly important to give schools help, said Nico Marchetti (ÖVP). It is important to provide teachers with targeted and concrete support if conflicts arise in the classroom in this context. This help is already being used.
The last few years have been very demanding in schools due to various crises. Christian Oxonitsch (SPÖ) demanded that time should be created in class to deal with these crises, for example by introducing the independent teaching subject “Political Education” in all types of schools, and tabled a motion for a resolution on this subject, which, however, did not find a majority. Sabine Schatz (SPÖ) spoke out in favor of new, additional initiatives to prevent extremism and more social workers in schools.
After the terrorist attack in Vienna in 2020, a focus was placed on extremism prevention and, among other things, around 4,000 workshops have been held by qualified organizations since then, said Faika El-Nagashi (Greens). Preventing extremism must start early, as radicalization also starts early. Extensive measures are needed to create cohesion, not just in the education sector, politics must also set an example.
Democracy education and extremism prevention are topics that no one party can manage alone; this can only be done together, emphasized Martina Künsberg Sarre (NEOS). The proposal and broad approval for this package of measures is a good first step. Understanding of dialogue, different opinions and peaceful coexistence begins at a young age and therefore these topics require space, time and money in schools.
The entire work on the subject of anti-Semitism in schools must be completely rethought, said Education Minister Martin Polaschek. The way things have been taught so far needs to be questioned. A working group with experts has already been set up for this purpose. This also applies to the topic of democracy education. Unfortunately, we are currently seeing that the type of mediation that has been done so far is not enough.
Criminal prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated by Hamas terrorists
Extremism always particularly affects women and girls, said Elisabeth Pfurtscheller (ÖVP) and, like Sabine Schatz (SPÖ), emphasized that sexual violence is a brutal weapon of war. It is important to show where extremism leads and to work to ensure that these acts are punished, said Pfurtscheller and introduced a joint motion for a resolution by the ÖVP, the Greens, the SPÖ and NEOS, which calls on the responsible members of the federal government to advocate for a solution at all levels to carry out rapid, independent and coordinated investigations, gender-sensitive processing and criminal prosecution of all sexual and gender-specific violence committed in Israel and Gaza by Hamas and other terrorist organizations, as well as psychotherapeutic and medical support for victims and witnesses. The motion was passed unanimously.
Catch up on basic education and compulsory school qualifications free of charge
A federal-state agreement on the promotion of basic education and the completion of compulsory schooling was approved by a majority, without the votes of the FPÖ. A total of €117.2 million in funding (excluding funds from the European Social Fund) is earmarked for the period from 2024 to 2028, half of which will be provided by the federal government and half by the states. By the end of 2028, a further 23,000 people should have the opportunity to take advantage of basic education offers and a further 11,000 people should be able to complete offers to catch up on compulsory school qualifications.
Hermann Brückl (FPÖ) demanded control and an evaluation of these programs because it is not known how successful these measures are and whether the people who complete these programs can actually be placed on the labor market.
Unfortunately, there are a large number of people who do not have the basic skills and each one is one too many. It is therefore important that educational gaps can also be closed in adulthood, emphasized Romana Deckenbacher (ÖVP). Education opens your eyes, enables a new look at things and breaks down prejudices, emphasized Johann Weber (ÖVP). In addition, education is the only crisis-proof capital that no one can take away from you and that you can expand and increase yourself. It is important for companies to find qualified employees, otherwise they cannot accept orders due to the lack of personnel, which in turn weakens the entire region, said Agnes Totter (ÖVP), which is why investment in basic education is needed.
For people who have difficulty reading, it is difficult to participate in social life, to have a job and to keep it. Many would also be ashamed of it, said Katharina Kucharowits (SPÖ). Therefore, support offers are needed to get rid of this “taboo zone”. It is an unbearable situation that around a million people in Austria do not have sufficient basic skills, said Andrea Kuntzl (SPÖ), too many people are “lost” on the way to completing compulsory schooling, and something must be done about this with support offers.
Biographies sometimes do not follow a straight line due to crises. However, every talent is needed, which is why basic education is important for everyone who lives in Austria. This funding offer can be used by anyone in Austria, regardless of their residence status, and thus also serves integration, said Sibylle Hamann (Greens).
If you don’t have sufficient basic skills, you can’t make good decisions for yourself, said Martina Künsberg Sarre (NEOS). The support measures adopted must help to actually reduce the number of people who do not have sufficient skills. It is a “drama” and a total failure of educational policy that one in four people who leave compulsory school at the age of 15 cannot read meaningfully.
There are different reasons why people do not have sufficient basic skills. Reading, writing and arithmetic are cultural techniques. If you don’t use and practice them for a long time, you can forget them again, says Education Minister Martin Polaschek. It is important that young people have and retain these qualifications. This school year there is a focus on reading skills in order to motivate the younger ones in particular to read more.
Collective report of the Petitions Committee
At the end of today’s meeting, the National Council met with one Collective report of the Committee for Petitions and Citizens’ Initiatives. This involves the renegotiation of the university of applied sciences development and financing plan as well as the financial security of sports clubs in connection with the future of the TV channel ORF Sport+. The Transport Committee will discuss a digital climate ticket and noise protection measures on the southern railway line, and the Environment Committee will discuss the protection of wombats. (Conclusion of National Council bea/med)
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