Austria (Report: Muhammad Amir Siddique)The second school year in eastern Austria, which was dominated by the CoV pandemic, ends on Friday. The need for relaxation among students,
teaching staff and parents after this crazy year is huge. For many, however, from August onwards it will be a matter of learning for examinations and to fill in any gaps that have arisen. The end of the school year was dominated by an excited, emotionally charged ongoing debate that fluctuated between two poles: on the one hand, concerns that schools could be a special hotspot for CoV clusters, and on the other hand, concerns about school-based, social issues and children’s psychological development. Because only a few weeks after a mostly normal start of school, part two of the bad film “Crazy” was thought to be: Because then the pandemic took over the direction of the local schools again. The mask rules were tightened, from November 1st the upper classes (and the universities) were closed, homeschooling was back. With the tightening of the second lockdown from November 17th, distance learning was applied to all school levels. It was not until December 7 that elementary schools and lower grades returned to the classes – working in shifts. After the Christmas holidays, I went straight back to distance learning. Only after the semester break was at least shift work permitted again – with continuous FFP2 mask compulsory. It was not until May 17 that all pupils returned to schools regularly. Despite having to wear a mask and testing three times a week, it was a relief for most – and it also made teaching and learning easier. It is now important that the children recover, emphasized the head school psychologist in Lower Austria, Andrea Richter, to ORF.at. Because: “Everyone is incredibly exhausted.” Although this is the case every year, it is especially true this year. The constant rule changes would have collapsed the usual routine.
Richter recommends “as much exercise as possible, as much outside as possible. And: Away from the PCs, they had enough of them. ”Now is the time to meet others, to revive friendships. The expert advises parents to do something together with the children. It is not about in-depth conversations, but about having fun together, she emphasizes. This also helps to better assess any changes in behaviour that may have occurred during the school year. So whether this is related to the everyday life turned upside down by the pandemic or maybe a normal development during puberty. As for the next school year: If you have a re-examination, you should prepare – well divided – throughout August. For all others, Richter recommends looking at the gaps from the second half of August and closing them. That even well-organized distance learning cannot replace class lessons – this proof, if it was necessary, has now been provided. One of the many consequences of homeschooling: the need for tutoring has increased significantly. This was often covered by free offers – for example at schools, adult education centres, in the family or through neighbours. Many will again this year use the services of the Summer School in the last two weeks of vacation. The pandemic has long since become a permanent stress test for the entire education system. Many deficiencies became so clearly visible that it may no longer be possible to simply suppress them. In the complex education system, in particular, problems are traditionally put on the back burner due to a lack of political agreement. The fact that tablet and laptop classes are of little use if there is no proper internet connection in school is just one of many findings. By the way: It is still unclear how the third year of school will go under the sign of the pandemic. ÖVP Education Minister Heinz Faßmann recently announced that the rules for starting school in August will be fixed and announced. In any case, everyone – teaching staff and schoolchildren – are tested at the beginning to be able to filter out any infections brought with them from vacation. In any case, it remains to be hoped that there won’t be another sequel“Crazy.
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