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The Federal Association of Parents’ Associations at Middle Schools and Higher Schools (BEV) reports that there are significantly more inquiries from parents than before as to whether they can refuse their children to take part in the school ski course. According to teacher representatives, the minimum number of participants is being reached in fewer and fewer classes so that the ski course can take place at all.
More and more families are coming to school events due to the increase in prices “to the limit of being financially viable or beyond,” says the top teacher representative Paul Kimberger (FCG) in an interview with the APA. The situation is also observed in the BEV “with great concern”, reports the chairman Marcus Dean of the APA. Households would have less money anyway because of the inflation, and there would also be significantly higher prices for accommodation or lift tickets. Fewer and fewer families could or would therefore afford to take part in a winter sports week. Politicians are taking measures, according to Dean, who refers to additional federal funding and somewhat higher state funding. Nevertheless: “That probably doesn’t help enough.”
Schools have to make decisions too
The schools themselves also have to weigh up whether taking on the costs for the participating teachers is within their budget, Dean explains. In contrast to prices, school budgets have not increased. Herbert Weiß (FCG), chairman of the AHS teachers’ union, also confirms this to the APA. However, more often than before the rise in prices began, the ski courses would not even take place in the first place. In order for a class to hold a school event, at least 70 percent of the students must take part – a value that is being achieved in fewer and fewer classes. “If everyone came about, that would certainly be a problem in most cases,” says Weiß.
According to teacher representative Kimberger, an increasing challenge for compulsory schools is the new regulation that costs of non-school persons (e.g. parents, retired teachers) who accompany ski courses or hiking days are no longer covered. “It’s a huge problem because we depend on these escorts.”
Federal student council emphasizes great value
The federal student council emphasizes the great value of such school events for class dynamics and the social structure. The parents’ purse should not decide whether someone can go to the winter or summer sports week or not, emphasizes federal school spokeswoman Flora Schmudermayer from the ÖVP-related student union in the APA interview. In any case, a good measure is the new sports week portal of the Ministry of Education, which can be used to compare prices and also access a subsidy pot for families with less money. As it is accessible to student, parent and teacher representatives, the students could also have a say in the goal and planned activities. However, Schmudermayer cannot assess whether these measures are sufficient.
Source: Nachrichten
