Leading economists have scathingly criticized the new curricula for elementary school, middle school and lower secondary school. Not enough economic and financial knowledge is taught. The unflattering attributes for the draft curriculum in “Geography and Economics” or, in the future, “Geography and Economics Education” range from “seriously inadequate” to “astonishingly insubstantial”. These regulations of the Minister of Education are to apply from 2023/24.
Economics educators from the Universities of Graz, Innsbruck, Linz and the Vienna University of Economics and Business addressed the public with a joint statement, since understanding economic relationships is essential for children and young people, but is given too little attention. The transfer of economic knowledge in the classroom is “very expandable” in Austria. Even the most recent draft for the curriculum even completely hides central concepts. “Another great opportunity was missed here,” summed up WU Rector Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger.
For Vienna, measures to strengthen financial education at schools were presented on Tuesday for this school year: 30 tested offers such as the “financial driver’s license” are currently offered by cooperation partners on the online platform of the Vienna Education Department.
Source: Nachrichten
