Today in Austria: A roundup of the latest news on Friday
Court rules Austria discriminates against children with disabilities, changes to kindergartens in Lower Austria, temperatures finally rising and more news from Austria on Friday.
- Austria discriminates against schoolchildren with disabilities, court rules
The Commercial Court of Vienna ruled that the Republic of Austria discriminates against students with disabilities, according to a Der Standard report from this Thursday. The ruling came after an association for victims of discrimination filed a complaint.
The court found that the Republic violates the legal ban on discrimination because "personal assistance" for attending federal schools (AHS and BHS) is only available to children and young people with physical disabilities and who need a "high level of care". This means that children and adolescents with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, sensory disability, or intellectual or mental functional impairment are not entitled to this assistance.
The Ministry of Education, represented by the Procurator's Office for Finance, could appeal the ruling but has chosen not to. Instead, the Ministry plans to address the issues promptly, the report stated.
READ ALSO: Four things foreigners in Austria need to know about the education system
- What is the new ORF TV licence fee every household in Austria will have to pay?
Instead of a GIS fee only for those with a TV or radio set, every household in Austria will have to pay a fee to fund public broadcaster ORF - which will also have to follow new rules for its journalism production. Here's what you need to know.
- Lower Austria amends kindergarten program to attract more workers
On Thursday, the state parliament passed an amendment to the Kindergarten Act, according to ORF. The new law introduces new employment categories, such as "pedagogical specialists," which may include elementary pedagogues in training and pedagogical-administrative assistants.
The new laws will also allow for job sharing, enabling head positions to be split between two people in the future.
These measures are intended to make it easier to recruit the required staff, as the province, like the rest of Austria, is struggling with staff shortages in the education sector.
READ ALSO: ‘Better pay in Germany’: Why is Austria’s teacher shortage getting worse?
- Austria’s Wiener Zeitung, one of the world’s oldest newspapers, to end daily print run
One of the world's oldest newspapers still in print, Austria's Wiener Zeitung, will primarily move online after a decision Thursday by the country's parliament.
The development marks the final step in a years-long dispute between the Austrian government and the newspaper about the future of the state-owned daily.
Founded in 1703 under the name Wiennerisches Diarium and later renamed Wiener Zeitung in 1780, the formerly private bi-weekly paper was nationalised by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1857, becoming the country’s official gazette.
“It is adopted with a majority,” Norbert Hofer, the third president of the parliament, said of a new law to primarily move the publication online from July 1.
The paper will maintain a minimum of ten print publications per year, depending on the funds available.
READ MORE: Austria’s Wiener Zeitung, one of world’s oldest newspapers, to end daily print run
- Temperatures are finally rising in Austria
The weather in April remains changeable as the month comes to an end, with temperatures rising to spring levels. On Friday, dense clouds cover the sky, and persistent rain is expected in the west and along the northern side of the Alps, with less rain towards the east. The south will experience little rain, but there will only be isolated gaps in the clouds. The wind will be weak to moderate, mainly from southerly directions. Early morning temperatures range from 2C to 9C, and daytime highs from 11C to 18C.
Saturday will be unsettled, with some rain showers or thunderstorms expected in the north, east, and southeast, but there will also be longer sunny spells throughout the country. The wind will be moderate from the west in some areas and light in others. Early morning temperatures will be between 5C and 11C, and daytime highs between 15C and 23C, with the highest values in the south.
On Sunday, short rain showers are expected during the day, especially in the eastern half of the country, but the sun will appear everywhere in phases, more often in the afternoon. Most of the showers will subside by the end of the day. A brisk north wind will blow at the eastern edge of the Alps. Morning temperatures will range from 5C to 10C, and daytime highs from 14C to 21C, from northeast to southwest.
READ ALSO: The five signs that spring has really arrived in Austria
- READERS REVEAL: What is it like to rent a home in Austria?
Many readers of The Local say their renting experience in Austria is generally good – or at least mixed – but price is becoming an ever greater challenge.
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
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- Austria discriminates against schoolchildren with disabilities, court rules
The Commercial Court of Vienna ruled that the Republic of Austria discriminates against students with disabilities, according to a Der Standard report from this Thursday. The ruling came after an association for victims of discrimination filed a complaint.
The court found that the Republic violates the legal ban on discrimination because "personal assistance" for attending federal schools (AHS and BHS) is only available to children and young people with physical disabilities and who need a "high level of care". This means that children and adolescents with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, sensory disability, or intellectual or mental functional impairment are not entitled to this assistance.
The Ministry of Education, represented by the Procurator's Office for Finance, could appeal the ruling but has chosen not to. Instead, the Ministry plans to address the issues promptly, the report stated.
READ ALSO: Four things foreigners in Austria need to know about the education system
- What is the new ORF TV licence fee every household in Austria will have to pay?
Instead of a GIS fee only for those with a TV or radio set, every household in Austria will have to pay a fee to fund public broadcaster ORF - which will also have to follow new rules for its journalism production. Here's what you need to know.
- Lower Austria amends kindergarten program to attract more workers
On Thursday, the state parliament passed an amendment to the Kindergarten Act, according to ORF. The new law introduces new employment categories, such as "pedagogical specialists," which may include elementary pedagogues in training and pedagogical-administrative assistants.
The new laws will also allow for job sharing, enabling head positions to be split between two people in the future.
These measures are intended to make it easier to recruit the required staff, as the province, like the rest of Austria, is struggling with staff shortages in the education sector.
READ ALSO: ‘Better pay in Germany’: Why is Austria’s teacher shortage getting worse?
- Austria’s Wiener Zeitung, one of the world’s oldest newspapers, to end daily print run
One of the world's oldest newspapers still in print, Austria's Wiener Zeitung, will primarily move online after a decision Thursday by the country's parliament.
The development marks the final step in a years-long dispute between the Austrian government and the newspaper about the future of the state-owned daily.
Founded in 1703 under the name Wiennerisches Diarium and later renamed Wiener Zeitung in 1780, the formerly private bi-weekly paper was nationalised by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1857, becoming the country’s official gazette.
“It is adopted with a majority,” Norbert Hofer, the third president of the parliament, said of a new law to primarily move the publication online from July 1.
The paper will maintain a minimum of ten print publications per year, depending on the funds available.
READ MORE: Austria’s Wiener Zeitung, one of world’s oldest newspapers, to end daily print run
- Temperatures are finally rising in Austria
The weather in April remains changeable as the month comes to an end, with temperatures rising to spring levels. On Friday, dense clouds cover the sky, and persistent rain is expected in the west and along the northern side of the Alps, with less rain towards the east. The south will experience little rain, but there will only be isolated gaps in the clouds. The wind will be weak to moderate, mainly from southerly directions. Early morning temperatures range from 2C to 9C, and daytime highs from 11C to 18C.
Saturday will be unsettled, with some rain showers or thunderstorms expected in the north, east, and southeast, but there will also be longer sunny spells throughout the country. The wind will be moderate from the west in some areas and light in others. Early morning temperatures will be between 5C and 11C, and daytime highs between 15C and 23C, with the highest values in the south.
On Sunday, short rain showers are expected during the day, especially in the eastern half of the country, but the sun will appear everywhere in phases, more often in the afternoon. Most of the showers will subside by the end of the day. A brisk north wind will blow at the eastern edge of the Alps. Morning temperatures will range from 5C to 10C, and daytime highs from 14C to 21C, from northeast to southwest.
READ ALSO: The five signs that spring has really arrived in Austria
- READERS REVEAL: What is it like to rent a home in Austria?
Many readers of The Local say their renting experience in Austria is generally good – or at least mixed – but price is becoming an ever greater challenge.
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
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