A study by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) reveals that educational attainment in Austria remains heavily dependent on parental background. Data shows six percent of children with parents holding only compulsory degrees attend special schools, compared to just one percent for children of tertiary-educated parents.
ÖVP spokesperson Nico Marchetti reports that 50 percent of Vienna's new students are classified as extraordinary, with 60 percent of those born in Austria. While SPÖ spokesperson Heinrich Himmer advocates for mandatory all-day schools to ensure equal opportunities, the ÖVP rejects this system despite 60 percent of Vienna's schools offering it.
Debate continues over school reforms as Marchetti rejects extending elementary school to six years. Following Martha Schulz's proposal to shorten summer holidays to six weeks, Himmer warned this would burden parents without expanded all-day care, while Marchetti suggested exploring mandatory summer school and denser holiday care networks.