Villacher parties fight for bilingual lessons in schools

Villacher parties fight for bilingual lessons in schools

In Villach, there are opportunities for bilingual lessons at the Khevenhüller elementary school on the brink. Due to the high proportion of migrant children at the school, this valuable program could soon be stopped. The political parties SPÖ and ÖVP are now actively committed to ensuring that the bilingual lessons are still being offered, and ask the citizens to support an online petition of the parents' association.

For five years, English has been taught at elementary school 1 in Villach as part of bilingual teaching. However, the state of Carinthia is forcing a recently made decision by the Federal Government to hire financial support to bear the costs for this school year alone. After that, there will be no way to record new classes. In a joint explanation, the parties emphasize that without permanent financial security, the continued existence of the program is at risk, which opens up decisive future opportunities for the children.

threat to the educational offer

The desired deletion affects the hours for native speakers, which would result in the bilingual lessons would be eliminated from the coming school year. Heidi Krammer, the chairwoman of the parents' association, expresses concerned voices of the parents and explains: “The elementary school in Khevenhüller is a place where our children get real opportunities through the bilingual lessons - especially those who speak English as the first language. In order for this successful model to be preserved, we are dependent on the support of the state of Carinthia and are asking the federal government to finally ensure that it cannot be so valuable for ours Children disappear. ”

In order to counter the impending end, the Villacher SPÖ and ÖVP have already taken steps to contribute an urgency application to the city senate. This application provides for a resolution to the federal government in order to ensure continuous financial support for bilingual lessons in Austrian schools.

In addition, a petition was launched with the support of the parents' association. Sarah Katholnig, the Vice Mayor and Education Officer of the SPÖ, emphasizes: "The teachers at this school do extraordinary things with 43 different nationalities. The bilingual program has become a model model. It should not be saved here. Studies should show that every euro that is invested in education in the long term pays off up to ten times." Her colleague City Councilor Christian Pober adds: "The best way to learn languages in youth and school.

Further information and the possibility of signing the petition can be found on the websites of the respective parties and the parents' association. Time is pushing and the support of the population is required to save bilingual lessons in Villach.