STOISITS: LAW STOPS HANDICAPPED BOY FROM VISITING SCHOOL

For three years until the end of last year the seventeen year old Markus frequented the integration school in Thörl. He would have liked to finish his fourth year at the same school. After an oxygen deficiency during birth Markus suffers from spastic tetraplegia. However, in February 2011 his mother received a notice by the District School Office which foresees that Markus visits a special school in Kapfenberg. The school is frequented by Markus today.

Continuing to visit the school in Thörl would have had many plusses: Markus was integrated into his class, teachers and students knew of his special needs and a personal help was always present during classes.

The District School Office bases its decision on the instruction law. This law foresees that students with special pedagogical needs absolve their twelfth year in a special school and not in a general school. The twelfth year can be absolved exclusively in a special school. The mother invested everything in order to make it possible for her son to stay in his school. However, the responsible authority made reference to the fact that laws have to be obeyed.

Ombudswoman Stoisits pointed out during the broadcast that the authorities had acted in accordance with the law. However, she also pleaded for more individual possibilities as well as for the amendment of the particular law which foresees exclusively that a special school is frequented in such cases. The law is not flexible enough in order to serve the special needs of the handicapped. Finally, she stated that a communication process between the relevant parties has to be initiated and developed.

FOLLOW UP: TEACHER FAILS TO RECEIVE SALARY FOR MONTHS

In summer 2009 a young teacher complained to the Ombudsman Board that after having started to work she had to wait for over two months for her first salary. Then it turned out that this had not been a onetime error but also an error in the system. The reason had been that the new teacher had only been registered after her start and not before. The software used by the administration – PM-SAP – worked limitedly and caused delays in salary payments. At the time, Ombudswoman Stoisits demanded a quick solution for this problem. The Ministry for Education promised improvements for the future.

In the current broadcast the Ombudswoman was able to report that the teacher had received her money. The Ministry for Education also has taken measures: Now, everything is being done as to procure the required documents before the teachers start working. The measures which are carried out by the schools are supposed to avoid further delays.

However, the Ombudswoman also criticized the fact that in reality there are still problems with the implementation of the law which foresees that salaries shall be paid out by the fifteenth of the month. She also pointed out that structural weaknesses have to be eliminated.