OeAD-Calice: 2nd Round of the School Events Cancellation Fund
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic school events continue to be affected by cancellations. In order to relieve schools and parents of the cancellation costs incurred the Austrian Federal Government launched the COVID-19 School Events Cancellation Hardship Fund in the spring of 2020. This fund assumes the cancellation costs incurred for cancelled school events lasting more than one day on a pro rata basis. In order to support those affected in the current school year, too, the National Council and the Federal Council have decided to continue the hardship fund in 2020/21. The OeAD-GmbH as a state agency for the education sector continues to be entrusted with its implementation.
The Federal Minister of Education, Heinz Faßmann, says: "I am very pleased that we have succeeded in extending the hardship fund for cancelled school events. The fund steps in quickly and unbureaucratically if a skiing week or a language trip cannot be cancelled free of charge."
The OeAD’s managing director Jakob Calice says: "The adoption of the legal basis for this in parliament ensures that families are not left high and dry: The OeAD continues to guarantee prompt reimbursement of the sums applied for so that schools and parents receive their money quickly. So far 7.83 million euros have been disbursed, benefiting more than 113,000 pupils. It takes on average only five days between application by the schools, examination of the applications and disbursement of the money."
About the School Events Cancellation Fund
Due to the coronavirus pandemic all school events throughout Austria had to be cancelled between 11 March 2020 and the end of the school year 2019/20. Already booked school events have also been cancelled in the current school year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The fund is endowed with a total of 13 million euros for both rounds, of which 7.83 million euros have been disbursed so far. Approximately 3,600 events, in which more than 113,000 pupils would have participated, were affected in the first round. By 30 September 2020 almost 2,500 applications had been submitted and were approved – all applications have now been examined and completed.
The aim of the second round of the School Events Cancellation Fund is once again to cover the cancellation costs for school events lasting more than one day with overnight accommodation that cannot be cancelled free of charge. The school acts as collective applicant for the parents / legal guardians. The following applies to the extension of the fund: 80 per cent of the cancellation costs will be refunded if the booking was made before 11 March 2020. 70 per cent will be refunded for bookings made after 11 March 2020 until the end of the school year 2019/20.
The deadline for application is 30 July 2021.
The latest date for cancellation is the end of the school year 2020/21.
The School Events Cancellation Fund will be in effect until 31 December 2021.
Eligible for compensation are, for example, travel costs, overnight accommodation, meals and admissions charges. Schools are requested to try to obtain free cancellation or more favourable cancellation conditions. If this attempt fails, a claim can be submitted to the School Events Cancellation Fund.
Detailed information is available at www.oead.at/schulstornofonds.