Education policy under pressure: every third child is at risk of failing!

Education policy under pressure: every third child is at risk of failing!

A worrying trend is emerging in Upper Austria: more and more young people are leaving the education system without obtaining a qualifying qualification. According to information from OTS Only around 16% of 25 to 29 year olds in the region have a compulsory school certificate as their highest level of education. These statistics highlight the challenges facing education.

An alarming factor is that around 25% of 15 to 16 year olds are unable to read comprehensibly at the end of compulsory schooling. This has serious consequences: those affected often struggle with educational difficulties, often find themselves in poorly paid jobs, are unemployed for longer periods of time and have less social participation. In order to reverse these developments, the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor is calling for effective measures to increase the level of education.

Urgent need for action

The systematic problems in the education system cannot be overlooked. In its education monitor, the AK Upper Austria found that the proportion of young people who are not in training is constantly increasing. The dropout rate in apprenticeship training is currently around 22%, which is seen as a partial failure of the education system. In order to counteract this, the AK stipulates that at least half of the young adults affected should be brought back into further training. This group is also more often affected by long-term unemployment.

The deficiencies in education are also reflected in social structures. Educational success depends heavily on the social status of the parents. Only 10% of students from families with low social status achieve high levels of competence at the end of compulsory school. In order to promote equal opportunities, the AK demands, among other things, a legal right to a free place in a child education and care facility from the age of two and access to free all-day schools.

Important investments in early childhood education

Investing in early childhood education is crucial to avoid early childhood education dropouts. In Upper Austria, only 6.4% of children under the age of three currently have access to playrooms or kindergartens that allow full-time work. In this context, it was agreed to reduce group sizes in kindergartens by 2028/29 in order to improve the quality of education and working conditions.

The AK Opportunity Index, which the Chamber of Labor recently developed, enables schools to use funds based on needs for language and reading support as well as social work. These measures are necessary to increase the social permeability of the education system, because origin, migration status and first language play a crucial role in educational success.

Financial conditions and educational offers

The financing of the Austrian education system is also criticized. Current education spending statistics show that Austria invests less in early childhood education compared to other EU countries. According to the data from Statistics Austria Public education resources should be increased to address the challenges in the education sector.

Against this background, it is crucial that educational policy measures focus on preventing dropouts while at the same time creating opportunities to catch up on qualifications. This could be done through st Strengths-based qualification models and through increased career and educational path orientation initiatives.

Overall, it appears that the need for action in the education system is significantly greater than previously assumed. The AK Upper Austria appeals to those responsible to react promptly and comprehensively in order to sustainably improve educational opportunities for all young people in the region.