Stoisits: State Aid for the Slovenian Music School

State Aid for the Slovenian Music School

Representatives of the Slovenian ethnical groups turned to the Austrian Ombudsman Board because the state of Carinthia is giving unequal subsidies to the local music schools. Glasbena Šola, the Slovenian music school, receives less money per pupil than the state of Carinthia’s “Musikschulwerk”.

The pupils chose this school because they do not only have German but also Slovenian as their mother tongue. It was founded 32 years ago as there were hardly any music schools in the bilingual areas of Carinthia – and much less with Slovenian as working language.

The school has educated 6,000 students in different instruments; several of them won prizes in international competitions. At the moment, 600 pupils attend classes in 20 different schools in the southern part of Carinthia. However, the teachers can hardly be paid, the lessons have to be cut and the tuitions cover only a quarter of the cost. The legal and pedagogic conditions are the same for the Carinthian music schools as for Glasbena Šola – but the aid is not.

The Slovenian school receives subsidies from the Office of the Federal Chancellor, from Slovenia and from cultural associations. Altogether, this is still less than the amount received by the Carinthian music schools. “The national administration fulfils its obligation, however the state of Carinthia is making the school wait and does not offer legal certainty”, criticised Ombudswoman Stoisits.

Carinthia only gave a written statement and did not participate in the TV show due to time constraints. They said that a reasonable subsidy could only be determined through an ethnical minority group assessment, which was rejected by representatives of the ethnical groups. The amount of aid will stay the same this year.

Ombudswoman Stoisits criticized the subsidies policy of the state of Carinthia: “The students of Glasbena Šola must have the same rights as all people living in Carinthia. An ethnical minority group assessment is just a diversionary tactic since this problem only concerns schools in the bilingual part of Carinthia.”

The headmaster of the school explained that for the 17,500 students of the music schools of the state of Carinthia, 23 million Euros are subsidized, eight millions coming from the “cultural shilling” for the public broadcaster. This has to be paid by all Carinthians and is earmarked, therefore Glasbena Šola should also profit from this money.

In a letter, Carinthia suggests the integration of Glasbena Šola in the regional Carinthian school system but states that this has been rejected by Glasbena Šola, which is not true according to the headmaster. For him, this would be an option, but the conditions must be adequate.

Ombudswoman Stoisits: "I ask for legal certainty for Glasbena Šola in Carinthia. This is an obligation of the state of Carinthia. The national help is very welcome and will still be paid.”

Re-examination: Noise control at a highway junction

 “Advocate for the People” has already reported in 2006, about the highway junction at „Steinhäusl“, which passes next to a housing area and is a massive noise disturbance for the residents.

Since the Iron Curtain still existed when the houses were built, such a massive increase in traffic was hardly thought possible. The majority of the people concerned already lived there thirty years ago.

Many letters have been written to the authorities, but nothing has been done. That is why an action group fights together with the municipality for the installation of noise barriers. According to ASFINAG (the company responsible for highways), it would be particularly difficult to provide this highway junction with noise barriers, as it is a complex section of the Austrian highway system.

In 2007, Ombudswoman Stoisits reported that ASFINAG will start with the construction of noise barriers any time soon. A relief is only expected by 2009.

The first phase was completed end of June 2010, jagged edge noise barriers have been installed since the summer. The cost so far amounts to 3.6 Million Euros, however not everyone affected has noticed an improvement. According to Asfinag the improvement will only be effective for everyone after completion of the project. Those living closest to the noise barriers have already noticed the difference.

Volksanwältin Stoisits is satisfied with the development: "I’m pleased that measurable progress has been made and that a third of the project is completed. Altogether the measures will amount to 9 million Euros. For now this is of no use to the complainant, however by 2011 there will be measurable relief for him as well, once the second phase is completed and the noise barriers are installed between the two carriage ways of the A1.