School Controversy Erupts as FPÖ Accuses Government of Discriminating Against Austrian Children
A political dispute has erupted in Lower Austria after the FPÖ criticized what it calls unequal treatment in classrooms, claiming Austrian students must pay for dictionaries while foreign students receive them for free through special education budgets.
According to Helmut Fiedler, the education spokesperson for the FPÖ in Lower Austria and a member of the regional parliament, dictionary use is part of the school curriculum and an essential tool for improving spelling and language skills. However, he argues that Austrian children must finance their dictionaries from the standard schoolbook allowance.
Fiedler explained that students who speak German as a second language receive a separate budget and are given a dictionary in addition to their regular textbook allowance. In contrast, the cost of a dictionary for Austrian students is deducted directly from their allocated textbook budget.
He said this arrangement means Austrian families indirectly pay for their own dictionaries, while foreign students receive the same learning tool as an extra benefit. The FPÖ described this system as unfair and called for equal rules for all students in the education system.
Fiedler also addressed the broader education debate, particularly regarding special education schools (Sonderschulen – special needs schools). He argued that such schools have provided valuable support for decades, offering structured environments and specialized assistance that help many children reach their full potential.
Criticizing the education policies of the NEOS education minister, Fiedler said it is “completely incomprehensible” that special needs schools are being treated as outdated. He insisted these institutions are not relics of the past but remain an important part of a modern and realistic education system.