As language skills among children with migrant backgrounds in Austria 📉, the government is contemplating extending mandatory kindergarten 🎒 to two years. Six-year-old Mohamed, one of many young Austrians, struggles to understand his teacher, highlighting a growing challenge in integrating migrant children into the education system.
Recent statistics reveal a rise 📈 in first-graders in Vienna who do not speak enough German 🇩🇪 to fully engage in lessons; from 36% two years ago to 45% now. Many of these children were born in Vienna 🏙️ and attended pre-school, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current integration efforts.
City officials and Austria's new coalition government believe that additional time in kindergarten could help bridge the language gap. However, experts 🧑🏫 argue that simply extending kindergarten isn't enough without adequately trained pre-school teachers. Hannes Schweiger, an associate professor at the University of Vienna, emphasizes the need for more qualified educators who can support language learning effectively.
Primary school teacher Marie-Sophie Polay warns ⚠️ that without immediate action, the education system could face a severe shortage of teachers, as many are burnt out or leaving the profession. This issue is becoming a pivotal topic in upcoming municipal elections in Vienna, with the migration-critical Freedom Party expected to gain support 📊. As the debate on migration and integration continues, the language challenges in Austrian schools remain a pressing concern.
Reference(s):
As language skills drop, Austria could extend mandatory kindergarten
cgtn.com
