Career opportunities in danger: Record number among German-tutors!

Career opportunities in danger: Record number among German-tutors!

In Austria, the education system faces a new challenge, because the number of children and adolescents who need special language support has achieved a regrettable record. According to current reports, almost 50,000 students need support in learning the German language. In the past school year, exactly 49,081 children and adolescents in compulsory schools received an extraordinary status, which corresponds to a significant increase compared to previous years. Minister of Education Christoph Return emphasized the need to give schools more freedom of choice in the implementation of these funding measures in order to meet the individual needs of the students. Kosmo reports on the alarming situation, which is further reinforced by the immigration flows, in particular refugees from Ukraine.

Most of the students concerned are elementary school students, with almost 39,700 children affected. Results show that about 52 percent of children visit German support classes, while the rest participates in German support courses. One challenge remains the form of funding: only 20 percent of the measures take place in integrative classes, the majority are in separate groups. The rule currently applies that a separate funding unit must be set up per location from eight students with the need for language support per location. This represents an additional burden for many schools.

language support and integration measures

The challenges in the field of education are not new, and since the 2018/19 school year, students with inadequate language skills have been taught in special German support classes or courses. These programs offer students the support that they need for a maximum of two years to become German in the language of teaching. The focus is on the fact that up to 20 hours a week are offered in German funding classes, while in funding courses six hours are planned. Children only spend time in certain subjects such as works, music or gymnastics together with their classmates of regular lessons. Oesterreich.gv.at underlines that the linguistic diversity plays a major role in the everyday life of schools.

In order to be able to help children and adolescents who may not bring any education experience better, the government plans to introduce orientation classes. Basic knowledge of German and essential basic school skills are to be taught here before a switch to regular classes or German support classes. In parallel to these measures, information offers for parents should also be created in order to clarify them about the social and school rules and duties.

outlook for the future

The increasing number of participants in German funding measures not only reflects immigration, but also the growing attention for linguistic needs in education. In addition to linguistic funding, the goal is to improve integration into the labor market and social participation. The creation of individual funding plans and the documentation of language progress are therefore essential components to enable the students concerned to start their educational career. The statistical survey takes place on October 1, so that the refugee movements and their effects can be recorded in detail and can flow into the planning of future measures.

Overall, the Austrian education system faces the task of reacting to the pulsating changes in society and developing effective strategies in order to enable all children the best possible education and integration.