70% of Vienna’s schools without social workers is not acceptable for the Vienna People’s Party
Vienna (OTS) – In principle, school social work is a matter for the states, but the federal government finances around 50 percent of the costs for school social work in the states. A request from the Vienna People’s Party in March revealed that 70 percent of Vienna’s compulsory schools have to do without social workers. “The lethargy in this issue, particularly expressed by City Councilor Wiederkehr, is no longer acceptable. We as the Vienna People’s Party drew attention to this problem years ago and presented our action plan with concrete measures a few weeks ago. This must now be implemented step by step,” said city councilor Karl Mahrer, state party chairman of the Vienna People’s Party.
In 2020, the Neos also submitted a motion for a resolution demanding that a school social worker be provided for each compulsory school, but today they apparently no longer want to hear about their demand. “The Neos do not live up to their own demands and requirements. We are still a long way from every compulsory school in Vienna being looked after by a school social worker. Given the current dangerous situation in schools with a massive shortage of teachers and the explosion of violence in schools, this is negligent and irresponsible. The SPÖ and the Neos must no longer leave the Viennese schools alone to deal with all their problems,” says local councilor and education spokesman for the Vienna People’s Party Harald Zierfuß angrily.
A total of 314 compulsory schools in Vienna are not provided with a school social worker. The fact that only 10 full-time equivalent school social workers will be added in the current year 2024 is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. The Vienna People’s Party is therefore calling for a school social worker per compulsory school. “The teachers in Vienna do not deserve to be left alone with their problems. In addition to quick and practical solutions, what is needed here is a massive increase in school social work,” conclude Mahrer and Zierfuß.
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