During a joint school visit to the HTL HAK Ungargasse school center, Education Minister Martin Polaschek and Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner emphasized the increasing importance of “intellectual national defense” in Austrian schools.
Because of the security policy situation, the comprehensive national defense (CND) enshrined in the Federal Constitution has generally gained in importance. In addition to military, economic and civilian national defense, spiritual national defense (GLV) is also part of comprehensive national defense. Due to the basic decree on civic education, the GLV is already an inherent part of educational work in schools in order to stimulate pupils’ understanding of democracy, democratic values and the will to defend democratic freedom and basic human rights.
“In times of increased disinformation and targeted fake news campaigns, I believe it is essential to provide future generations with comprehensive information about conflicts, protection and the assistance provided by the Austrian Armed Forces.”
Bildungsminister Martin Polaschek bei dem Schulbesuch.
Defense Minister Tanner explains: “We can see that the world has become an increasingly insecure place, so it is all the more important that we and the Austrian Armed Forces prepare for possible threats. In this context, the will of our population to defend themselves plays a central role. Our task as a defense department is to explain to people and young people why it is important to protect our homeland. In order to protect a country, there needs to be overall national and social strength in order to be able to counter the many challenges. Early education and the creation of awareness are important factors here.”
It was not until 2023 that “Comprehensive National Defense” and the “Austrian Armed Forces” were included as curriculum content in the subject of political education and history at secondary schools and AHS lower grades. In future, all pupils will therefore be confronted with this content on a mandatory basis. In the upper grades, various subjects and the basic decree on civic education also provide opportunities to deal with the topics of “comprehensive national defense” and “security policy”.
Information officers from the Austrian Armed Forces are invited to both compulsory schools and secondary schools to familiarize pupils with the topic. Education Minister Polaschek and Defense Minister Tanner jointly attended a presentation by information officer Colonel Horst Dauerböck at the HTL HAK Ungargasse school center. After an input from the information officer, the more than 150 participating pupils were able to ask questions and obtain first-hand information.
“Around 600 information officers are on duty at our schools to talk to pupils about the important work of the Armed Forces. In times of increasing disinformation and targeted fake news campaigns, I believe it is essential to provide future generations with comprehensive information about conflicts, protection and the help provided by the Armed Forces,” said Education Minister Martin Polaschek. “Information officers manage to sensitize our pupils very well to the topic of comprehensive national defence. The pupils’ interest in current security policy is very high – naturally also due to current events. I was able to see this for myself today together with Defense Minister Tanner.”
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