Debate centered around the 'Summer School, Controversy, and Financial Benefits' during the conference.
In Austria, the focus is on improving language skills for students with poor German proficiency, as the compulsory Summer School program is set to begin this year. The two-week course, aimed at supporting primary and lower secondary school students, will take place from August 18 to 29 in Burgenland, Lower Austria, and Vienna, and from August 25 to September 5 in Carinthia, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg [1].
The Neos chair, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, announced the program's compulsory nature for students with deficient German skills starting from next year [2]. The summer school, which is voluntary at first, will become mandatory once registered, with attendance required for the full duration of the program. The initiative is part of measures introduced in response to the COVID-19 crisis, aimed at ensuring school readiness for students with limited or no knowledge of German, or those who need to catch up [1].
In Vienna alone, there are almost 20,000 extraordinary students [4]. The program will be taught by teachers and teacher trainees, with Austria planning to mandate teacher participation if there is an emergency shortage of volunteers [3]. Teachers involved will receive about 60 euros per hour or may receive one less teaching hour in the following school year as compensation [3].
Meanwhile, Meinl-Reisinger, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been vocal on various international issues. She believes that Hamas is not interested in a Two-State Solution and seeks the destruction of Israel [5]. However, regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Meinl-Reisinger emphasizes the need for a ceasefire, stating that Ukraine has already declared itself ready for a comprehensive ceasefire in March, but Russia continues to bomb [5].
Meinl-Reisinger also advocates for a self-confident Europe and believes that Austria cannot outsource its security to the USA, its energy to Moscow, and its supply chains to Beijing [6]. She emphasizes the importance of securing peace and mentions that Austria has participated in peace missions in the past, such as in the Balkans (Kosovo, Bosnia) [6].
In domestic affairs, Meinl-Reisinger is dealing with two scandals: a data leak and a sex scandal [7]. Despite this, she remains committed to addressing pension issues, advocating for structural reforms and a higher retirement age in the long term, but only with the coalition after the next election [7]. She also emphasizes the need for a review of cybersecurity following the data leak incident [7].
Bettina Emmerling, Vienna's Education Councillor, welcomes the decision to implement the Summer School, speaking of a decisive step to sustainably improve educational opportunities [4]. The Neos chair has also made it clear that measures will be taken to ensure pensions for future generations [7]. Meinl-Reisinger, who was a sharp-tongued opposition politician before becoming Foreign Minister, sees her role as Foreign Minister as an "honorable task" to represent Austria's interests [6].
References: 1. ORF 2. Kurier 3. Der Standard 4. Kurier 5. Kurier 6. Kurier 7. Der Standard
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