Since the Hamas terrorist attack and the war in the Gaza Strip, anti-Semitism in schools has increased sharply. A round table on this explosive topic is planned for next week. The Education Minister is cautious about another Styrian proposal.
Glorification of the terrorist organization Hamas and hatred of Israel also exist in Styrian schools. At the beginning of the week, State Councilor for Education Werner Amon went on the offensive: In the “Krone” discussion, he announced de-radicalization programs that do not yet exist in Styria. And he demanded tough consequences: “The directorates must finally have the instrument of immediate suspension of students be given into the hand. If children endanger their colleagues, teachers or themselves, action must be taken immediately!” Polaschek reacts cautiously to the suggestion. Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) also announced a “clear stance against anti-Semitism and extremism”. However, the responsibility should not be shifted solely to the educational institutions, said the minister. Polaschek takes a different view of party colleague Amon’s call for faster suspensions of students, as the green coalition partner would not go along with it. At the “political vintage” to which Werner Amon invited people to Deutschlandsberg Castle on Friday evening (and, among others, EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn as well was able to welcome the Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Khymynets), the state council took up the topic again: He announced a round table with school psychologists, directors, police and religious communities for Wednesday. The aim: to combat increasing anti-Semitism in schools.
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