Punish parents of suspended children: Neos, ÖVP and FPÖ demand law

Violence, conflicts and suspensions increased sharply in Upper Austria’s schools – the OÖN reported in detail – in the last school year. Since then, more prevention work has been called for and parents should also be held responsible. On Thursday, the Neos, together with the ÖVP and FPÖ, will present an initiative motion in the state parliament session that calls on the federal government to act.

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Parents and teachers responsible

For Neos education spokeswoman Julia Bammer, clear legal foundations are finally needed. If parents of suspended students repeatedly refuse to cooperate with the school without good reason, administrative penalties should be possible as a last resort.

• More on the subject: Neos demand punishments for parents in the event of suspensions

According to ÖVP education spokeswoman Regina Aspalter, providing Upper Austrian children with the best possible education is the responsibility of parents and teachers. “It is all the more incomprehensible that individual parents refuse to cooperate with the school. It is particularly unacceptable when there is misbehavior on the part of their own child,” emphasizes Aspalter.

Truancy as a model of punishment

Stefanie Hofmann, FPÖ education spokeswoman, cites the regulation for truancy as an example of punishment. Since the 2018/19 school year, unexcused absence from class has been punished more severely in Austria. Students are only allowed three days of unexcused absence during the entire nine-year period of compulsory schooling. This is followed by a mandatory report to the district administrative authority and the fines then range between 110 and 440 euros.