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26. 08. 10. - 15:00

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26. 08. 10. - 15:00

Readers undecided about school summer break

More than four in 10 oppose plans to shorten the summer school holiday, according to the latest Austrian Times poll.

Around 43 per cent of participating readers of the online newspaper said children deserved to enjoy the summer in full, but 40.3 per cent argued that nine weeks in a row were too much of a break.

Around 14 per cent suggested that kids, teachers and parents should discuss the issue, while three per cent admitted to not having an opinion.

Discussions about whether the nine-week summer holiday of primary and secondary students should be cut traditionally come up every summer.

Another heatedly debated issue is whether there should just be one school type for children aged from 10 to 14 in Austria.

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Education Minister Claudia Schmied has been campaigning in favour of such a reform for a long time, but several influential People’s Party (ÖVP) representatives oppose the idea.

Schmied told the Salzburger Nachrichten today (Thurs) that she felt "a lot of support from people and my party".

SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann admitted earlier this year that showing too little support for Schmied’s positions last year was one of his biggest mistakes since being sworn in around two years ago.

Schmied said in 2009 she wanted teachers to work an additional two hours per week at the same wage rates. Teachers’ unions threatened to go on strike, and the minister was eventually forced to back down over the issue.

Faymann angered teachers’ representatives only a few days ago by not ruling out that teachers could be forced to "work a bit more" while being paid the same as they were now to help get the state budget in order.

Schmied said today: "I’m convinced we must reform the Austrian education system to create better schools for our children and grandchildren."

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The new Austrian Times poll wants to know your preferred Austrian summer vacation – take part now!

Austrian Times

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