Over 320 scholars and teachers unite against proposal to slash language instruction for AI courses
VIENNA — Opposition is mounting against Austrian Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr’s plan to reduce foreign language instruction in high schools. More than 320 scientists, educators, and language experts have signed an open letter demanding he abandon the proposal.
The dispute erupted when Wiederkehr unveiled plans to cut Latin while expanding artificial intelligence courses. Now the backlash has intensified as the same cuts target second foreign languages French, Italian, Spanish, and other modern tongues.
“We demand that instruction in second living foreign languages continue without restrictions,” the letter declares. Initiated by University of Innsbruck professors, the campaign has attracted signatures from teachers and researchers nationwide.
“Austria cannot afford to fall further behind in language education,” Schmiderer said. “We expect the minister to consider our concerns.”
Starting in 2027-28, computer science would become “Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence,” expanding from two to three weekly hours. A new “Media and Democracy” subject would add two more hours. Latin would drop from twelve to eight hours. Students choosing a second living language would also lose two hours.
The irony is sharp: Austria already ranks among the stragglers alongside Hungary and Ireland in school-based foreign language learning. Only 7.6 percent of Austrian students learn two or more living foreign languages. The EU average? 59.9 percent.
Cutting two weekly hours over 60 total would jeopardize students reaching “B1 level,” the minimum for satisfactory language command. Surveys show most students want to learn more languages, not fewer.
“This undermines the European principle of multilingualism and contradicts the objective that all Europeans should master at least two languages beyond their mother tongue.” Second and third languages provide access to contexts “that cannot be satisfactorily reached through English alone.”
Experts point to Latin America, an increasingly important economic market for Austria, where Spanish proficiency matters. Foreign language classrooms also represent the ideal space for democracy education while fostering critical media literacy.
Ironically, protesters invoke AI in their defense. Foreign language teaching already uses artificial intelligence for personalized practice and immediate feedback.
As signatures multiply, Minister Wiederkehr faces a choice: listen to hundreds of experts or push forward with a vision critics say will leave Austrian students voiceless in tomorrow’s multilingual world.
