Complete detachment from the essence of the issue: Criticism of the hijab ban
Representatives of teachers in the SPÖ (Social Democratic Party) in Austria have sharply criticized the government's plan to ban girls from wearing hijabs in the eighth grade. The Social Democratic Teachers' Union (SLÖ) described this proposal as a "blatant departure from the essence of the issue," emphasizing that children's well-being cannot be assessed based on the wearing of hijabs by a few girls.
The union stated in its statement that there are more important issues affecting children's well-being that need to be addressed first, such as "digital stupidity" resulting from excessive use of devices at an early age, excessive consumption of sugary foods, early school separation from the age of ten, and exempting girls (often Muslim) from swimming or physical education classes, in addition to their withdrawal from school activities. Teachers confirmed that these are the core issues that should be at the top of educational policy priorities.
Teachers' representatives also criticized the imposition of additional responsibilities on schools under this proposed law, considering that it contradicts the current government plan that extends for two years and aims to reduce administrative and educational burdens on schools and teachers. They pointed out that such laws increase the pressure on educational institutions that are already suffering from a lack of resources.
According to the newspaper Heute, the federal government recently approved a law that prohibits girls under the age of fourteen from wearing hijabs in schools. Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm from the ÖVP party defended the decision, emphasizing that the goal is to protect the freedom of girls and ensure their well-being, stating that "there is no place for the hijab" for those under fourteen. The draft law is currently under review before final approval.
At the same time, the Central Committee of AHS Teachers called for a modification of the mechanism for dealing with violations of this ban. The committee suggested that the first meeting should not be held with the student alone, but should also include parents from the beginning. They justified this by stating that many young girls do not wear the hijab on their own, and thus discussing the matter with them alone would be futile. The committee believes that involving parents in the dialogue from the start makes the application of the law fairer and more realistic — if it is approved at all.