The corona crisis also dominated the final chapter on the second day of budget discussions in the National Council, namely the topics of education, science and research. The opposition once again denounced the schools’ switch to distance learning, the criticism was rejected by the ÖVP. Education Minister Heinz Fassmann (ÖVP) particularly emphasized the increases in the individual budget items. The actual budget decision will follow on Thursday.
At the start of the final debate, SPÖ MP Sonja Hammerschmid sharply criticized the changeover of schools to distance learning. “You couldn’t have done more damage with the shutdown,” she said. Because the “balancing act” between distance learning for those students who stay at home and learning support for those who are supervised in schools cannot succeed at all, she said.
Distance learning would often fail because students did not have the technical requirements – tablets would often be missing, for example. It comes too late that the government has decided to purchase digital devices for all pupils and the budget for this is 235 million euros: because these devices will only be in schools in 2021 and 2022 “and only in the 5th and 6th classes. School level “.
FPÖ education spokesman Herrmann Brückl once again emphasized that the closure of the schools would result in a “whole corona generation”. Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) closed the schools “single-handedly” “against all scientific evidence”. “It has been proven that schools are not the drivers of infection,” he said.
On the part of NEOS, education spokeswoman Martina Künsberg Sarre paid tribute to the education minister for the fact that he “was the only one in the federal government who fought to the end” to keep schools open. This was of no use, “because obviously only one person is in charge, namely the Federal Chancellor,” said the MP. The school closings would not have been necessary: ”You would have had six months to get something up and running here.” It is not enough for those who need it to be able to send their children to schools: “There are no classes in schools, schools are not open, that is how the population perceives it.”
The education minister did not respond to the opposition’s criticism of the school closings, but put the budget increases in the foreground. With regard to the delivery of the digital end devices planned for next year, Fassmann said that it was bound by legal regulations. In the case of such large purchases, one has to tender throughout Europe within the framework of the Federal Procurement Act, it takes time. In view of the growth in the budget – in 2021 the education sector will receive 6.1 percent more, spending on universities and scientific research will rise by 4.7 percent – Fassmann said: “To call it ambitious is not possible with these figures. “
The opposition criticism rejected the ÖVP education spokesman Rudolf Taschner. If you stand and pretend “as if you were in front of the abyss, then you are in a different universe than in Austria”. School will also succeed now, “because of the great commitment of those who work in the schools”. The Green MP Sybille Hamann underlined the decision to award the digital devices: “We don’t do anything different than what the textbook campaign did in the 1970s. And that’s something you should be proud of,” she told the opposition .
On Thursday, after further budget discussions in the evening, the decision on the entire set of figures will be in the National Council’s program. The deficit expected for the coming year will be corrected upwards from EUR 21 billion to EUR 22.6 billion by amendment due to Corona. For the time being, Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) is assuming a national Maastricht deficit of 9.8 percent and a national debt ratio of 87.9 percent. Some of those who are given more money despite the crisis include the judiciary, the army and the police. In addition, there are economic, climate and research policy priorities. Before that, the chapters women, work, infrastructure and the budget of the Ministry of Finance will be debated on Thursday.
After the budget decision on Thursday evening, things will continue in parliament on Friday. There is still a comprehensive program on the last day of the working week. The legal right to special care time stands out in particular. There are up to four weeks for people who have to look after children in the pandemic. The employers, who had a veto right under the old rule, are compensated for the costs incurred. Ethics classes in schools will also be introduced on Friday. It is aimed at those who do not attend religious instruction and is to be established gradually from the school year 2021/2022.
(End) hac / wim
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