2025
Improvement of German Learning Through the Formation of German Classes and German Language Courses
Regulations and legislative documents and evaluation
Status:
Implementation started in the 2018/19 school year; since April 2019, MIKA-D (Measuring Instrument for Competence Analysis in German) has been available as an instrument for nationwide use. In 2021 and 2022 the programme was monitored in order to optimize it. In recent years, the ministry has increased the resources for German support classes by ten million euro. On the basis of the new government programme the ministry now intends to further increase financial support for German language support. Due to new regulations, the guidelines for promoting German were updated in January 2024 and published as a circular. In 2024/25, MIKA-D was enhanced with a standardized supplementary scale, which supports targeted language promotion for students and simultaneously relieves schools in the application of MIKA-D.
Sources:
- Legislation
- Decree on curricula
- Decree on school readiness
- Decrees on Language assessment with MIKA-D (measuring instrument for competence analysis - German)
- Monitoring outcomes
- Guide to German language support
Main objectives and measures:
- Improvement of German learning for ex-matricular pupils with a mother tongue other than German through the formation of German classes and German language courses
- Target group-specific and accurate design of German support measures
- Definition of German competency as a school entrance criterion
- Objective and transparent determination of the extra-matricular status of a pupil and subsequently, the extent of German funding
- Promoting the language skills of children and pupils with special needs in the language of instruction German
Lack of knowledge of the language of instruction is a major obstacle to integration and further education and careers. Diverse studies have shown in recent years that a significant proportion of students report clear deficits in German and that they are not covered by the current support system. Pupils who have no or very limited knowledge of the language of instruction German when they enter the school system are assigned to a German language class. The classification itself is based on standardized language screenings. These should be applied bindingly at the school locations. The opening of such is obligatory for at least 8 pupils at the school location. Syllabuses for German language classes have been prescribed in 2018. In 2023/24, curriculum supplements for German language courses for non-regular students as well as curriculum supplements for regular students with German as a second language have been prescribed.
- Primary school: 15 hours per week of intensive language training in the context of the respective 22 - 24 total hours per week according to the hourly table
- Secondary I: 20 hours per week intensive language training within the respective 28 - 32 total hours per week according to the hourly table
In addition to attending a German language class, these students are also expected to be part of the regular classes and to take part in regular subjects and activities (such as gymnastics, class and school trips). German classes are designed for the duration of a semester and con be extended up to max. four semesters.
Funding: € 40 mio / year
Involved Bodies and Monitoring:
National Education Reporting
Periodic report
Status:
The National Education Report is published every three years. The version 2024 is available since 23.12.2024 for the sixth time.
Sources:
Description:
The National Education Report (NBB) is coordinated, published and submitted to the National Council by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF).
The NBB 2024 was compiled in collaboration with the Federal Institute for Quality Assurance of the Austrian School System (IQS) and external researchers. It is divided into three parts.
Part 1 - Education controlling report: This includes the following key elements: quality framework for schools, education monitoring, individual competence measurement PLUS (iKMPLUS), internal and external school evaluation. It also reports on progress in achieving the EU targets for education and training and on the BMBWF's impact information. The school quality reports of the education directorates will be published for the first time in the 2024 edition as an appendix to the Education Controlling Report. They provide an overview of key indicators from the federal provinces and also describe measures for two selected objectives from the resource, target and performance plan.
Part 2 - Education indicators: Part 2 provides a comprehensive and differentiated quantitative presentation of important aspects of the school and education system. The education indicators are divided into the subject areas of context, input, processes and output/outcome.
Part 3 - Selected areas of development: The following topics are covered: Lateral entry programs for teachers, artificial intelligence in education, democracy education and the use of data for school and teaching development.
Funding: part of the Ministry's budget
Monitoring and involved bodies:
2024
Change of matriculation examination
National regulation and legislative documents
Status:
The new AHS examination regulations will be available in mid-November 2024.
Sources:
Supporting documents for creative or artistic work
Description:
On July 22, 2024, parliament approved changes to the matriculation examination at AHS.
In Spring 2026 students may choose a research, creative or artistic approach as part of their matriculation examination.
In 2024/25 students in the final school year can decide by September 30 whether they will write a research, creative or artistic final paper instead of the pre-scientific paper whose topic was approved by the school management in April 2024 or whether they will work on the original topic as planned. Alternatively, they can take an additional written or oral examination instead of writing a final paper.
Funding: No data available
Monitoring and involved bodies:
Summer School
Project
Status:
As in the former summers since 2020 summer school 2024 took place in the last two weeks of the summer holidays:
- Burgenland, Lower Austria, Vienna: August 19 to 30, 2024.
- Carinthia, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol , Vorarlberg: August 26 to September 6, 2024.
Sources:
Description:
Summer school is a two-week program for the individual and targeted support of students. It enables the consolidation of the teaching language German, so that students can better follow the lessons in the coming school year. Summer school is primarily aimed at students from primary and lower secondary schools:
- non-regular students,
- students with a deficiency in German language,
- students who have a special need to catch up in German, also due to the situation of the last few months.
In any case, the recommendation of the school management or the responsible teacher is decisive for attending the summer school.
Pupils are taught by pedagogues and teacher trainees. Participation in the summer school is voluntary for all participants. After registration the participation becomes obligatory for the entire period.
The summer school is one of the measures initiated by the government in the wake of the Corona crisis.
Funding: No data available
Monitoring and involved bodies:
- Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
- Boards of Education
New Curricula in Compulsory Schooling
National regulation and legislative documents
Status:
The new curricula come into effect in ascending order since school year 2023/24
Sources:
Description:
Since school year 2023/24 the new curricula for primary school, compulsory secondary school and academic secondary school lower level come into effect.
The new competency-based curricula prepare students in the best possible way for the challenges of the 21st century. The curricula are equally geared to the development of subject-specific and cross-curricular competencies, focus on the essentials in terms of content and thus offer more scope for integrating current and cross-curricular topics into lessons. It is also essential that teachers, guardians and students are given orientation in terms of the competencies to be acquired by the end of the respective school level through clearly defined descriptions of competencies.
Competence grids are a pedagogical tool for teachers that is intended to anchor competence orientation in the Austrian school system at many levels. To this end, they specify the competence descriptions laid down in the curricula. The curricula on which the competence grids are based answer the question: WHAT should be learned in a given period of time? Competency grids also provide teachers with information on HOW WELL something should be learned and thus specify the competencies to be achieved at a school level.
The added value of competency grids manifests itself essentially in five application scenarios, namely
- as a basis for semester or annual planning
- as a basis for lesson planning and the creation of competence-oriented learning tasks
- as an aid to reflection on one's own teaching
- as a diagnostic tool
- as a starting point for discussions with students and guardians
Funding: part of ministry's budget
Monitoring and involved bodies:
- Federal Ministry
- Boards of Education
Focus on Reading
National action plan
Status: implementation from 2023/24
Sources:
- press release
- information
- Circular on the nationwide reading seal of approval for primary schools “Reading. Your superpower”
Description:
The Austrian Federal Minister of Education presented a focus on "reading" starting in the 2023/24 school year.
He announced a focus on improving students' reading skills relying on comprehensive measures ranging from primary education to the deployment of reading ambassadors.
Overview of the "Reading" departmental strategy
- New curricula come into effect in which reading is prominently anchored. The overarching theme of "Language Education and Reading" ensures that successful reading is emphasized in all subjects.
- Competency grids specify the competencies to be acquired by students and support teachers even more sustainably in promoting the expected reading competencies in students.
- The national testing in reading provides regular evidence about students' reading competencies so that teachers can target individual support precisely where it is needed.
- Supporting materials provide teachers with valuable tools, especially when dealing with reading in a digitalized world.
- Reading ambassadors are well-known public figures who play a role in the world of children and young people and will make their personality and values they associate with reading available as a motivational tool for young people. The plan is for schools to increasingly invite reading ambassadors to inspire their students.
- The nationwide reading seal of approval is intended as an incentive for schools to increasingly implement innovative reading projects at schools. Schools that establish reading as a holistic task at the site and significantly improve their students' reading performance through targeted measures are to be honored.
- Focus on reading in the classroom: It is important to support those students who particularly need it in order to acquire those reading skills that are provided for in the curricula of the individual school levels.
The nationwide reading seal of approval “Lesen. Your superpower” will be awarded to primary schools for the first time in spring 2025.
Funding: part of ministry's budget
Monitoring and involved bodies:
- Federal Ministry
- Boards of Education
Child protection concepts in schools
Regulation and legislative documents / part of national action plan
Status: implementation in school year 2024/25
Sources:
Description:
Austria's schools shall be a place of safety, security and personal development for every child.
The Council of Ministers decision follows this endeavor a decisive legal step. Thus a government bill for the amendment of the school instruction law was introduced by the Minister of Education. In concrete terms, the Council of Ministers' decision means anchoring comprehensive protection of students against physical, psychological and sexual violence at school in Austrian school law.
The ministry has also set up a task force for child protection. There have been extensive consultations with child protection institutions.
The legal framework has now been created for mandatory child protection concepts at every school, which will include core elements such as a code of conduct, a risk analysis and a definition of the procedure to be followed in the event of possible hazards.
Funding: part of ministry's budget
Monitoring and involved bodies:
- Federal Ministry
- Boards of Education
Initiative 'Excellent profession' (Klasse Job)
National strategy
Status:
The shortage of teachers is one of the greatest challenges in the Austrian education system. For this reason, the federal ministry launched this strategy in October 2022. Since autumn 2023, the "Klasse Job" campaign also includes elementary education in order to offer interested persons the opportunity to to find out about the different training paths.
Sources:
Description:
The strategy "Klasse Job" comprises a wide-ranging package of measures. It pursues three central fields of action:
- Modernizing the narrative of school
Schools develop into centers of excellence. They provide students with educational and developmental spaces and a "safe environment".
- New target groups for the teaching profession are addressed and personnel management is professionalised
More people are to be recruited as educators who become teachers following a career change. At the same time, new, up-to-date information and communication formats will be used to promote interest in the teaching profession and to facilitate and advertise entry into this profession. The application processes for potential teachers will become more service oriented.
- Teacher training will be further developed
Students must be able to complete their studies in high quality, within a reasonable period of time. Practice-oriented study content must be improved so that the transition to the profession is successful. Subjects in which there is a particular need must become more attractive.
In order to convey the new image of school to the general public, the BMBWF has developed the "Klasse Job" campaign in line with the departmental strategy. The campaign has two central goals: It wants to convey a positive, modern image of school, and it wants to attract the following three groups of people to the profession of teacher: potential career changers in the profession; people for whom teaching at a school in certain subjects could be interesting as an additional job; students aged 17/18 who are thinking of choosing a teaching degree program.
With the website klassejob.at there is a "single point of contact" for all those who are interested in the teaching profession. This site is the communicative heart of the campaign and is promoted through accompanying communication measures (presence in the media (online/print) and via social media channels).
Funding: part of the Ministry's budget
Monitoring and involved bodies:
10-Point Program to Strengthen Trust in Science and Democracy in Austria (TruSD)
National strategy
Status:
Strategy in implementation since 2022. The campaign DNAustria was launched in February 2024.
Sources:
- 10 point program (English version)
- Study on the Causes of Science and Democracy Skepticism in Austria
- Offers for Science and Democracy Education
- Campaign DNAustria
Description:
Strengthening trust in science and democracy is a central concern of the BMBWF. Therefore it is working consistently on this and is implementing step by step the corresponding strategy. Recently the Minister presented an information package for schools to support the many dedicated teachers in bringing science into the classroom and the class to science.
The result is available on the OeAD website. The 500 or so science and democracy education offerings available there are aimed at schools throughout Austria. They include workshops and guided tours of research facilities as well as science labs, excursions, teaching materials, game apps and podcasts.
The campaign DNAustria was launched in February 2024 to strengthen trust in science and democracy. DNAustria gives all offers for science and democracy education a common umbrella.
Funding: part of the Ministry's budget
Monitoring and involved bodies:
.
2023
iKM PLUS: Individual Competence Assessment
National testing programme
Status: Ongoing
Sources:
Description:
The first implementation of iKMPLUS took place across the board at grade 3 in the summer semester 2021/2022 (German reading, mathematics). The second implementation of iKMPLUS took place across the board at grade 7 in winter semester 2022/23 (German (reading), mathematics, English (receptive skills)).
Starting in the summer semester 2022/23 iKMPLUS will annually take place at grades 3 and 4 in the basic modules German (reading) and mathematics and with the start of the winter semester 2023/24 it will annually take place at grades 7 and 8 in the basic modules German (reading), mathematics and English (receptive skills).
Measures:
The Austrian frame concept of education standards puts a focus on the acquisition of basic subject-specific competences, as defined by the “Bildungsstandards” – Education standards – decree, as a prerequisite for sustainable and lifelong learning. Under the direction of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and the Federal Institute for Quality Assurance in the Austrian School System (IQS), the individual competence assessment PLUS (iKMPLUS) aims at measuring the extent to which students attain the intended learning outcomes in German, Mathematics and English as set out by the „Bildungsstandards“.
The individual competence assessment PLUS is a set of instruments for pedagogical diagnostics and it is designed to assess subject-related and cross-curricular competencies of students. The results of the iKMPLUS are to be promptly and directly effective as a foundation for support and instruction of individual students and teachers. On the other hand, they provide reliable data and indicators for evidence-based school and quality development.
The iKMPLUS is administered each academic year on the basis of students performed assessments: on a mandatory basis at grades 3 and 4 in German (reading) and Mathematics; at grades 7 and 8 in German (reading), mathematics, and English (receptive skills). The compulsory modules take place within a national and predefined three-week period. The voluntary modules can be administered more flexibly and at the discretion of teachers. In addition to the competency assessments, iKMPLUS provides comprehensive supporting materials and training opportunities (administration, reading and using results, etc.).
The new instruments currently being developed constitute a substantial advancement compared to previous standardized assessments at primary and lower secondary level. It is expected that the evidence base for school and quality development as well as for educational monitoring will be significantly strengthened through the provision of substantially more longitudinal and condensed performance indicators. Information will be used to further monitor, develop and assure quality within the Austrian school system, while simultaneously boosting the benefits for individual students and teachers through targeted support and supporting materials.
Funding: No data available
Monitoring: Continuous monitoring within the context of the impact orientation.
Involved bodies:
Introduction of Ethics as Mandatory Subject
Regulations and legislative documents
Status: Presentation to the council of ministers. Roll out starting 2021/2022
Sources:
- Press release (7.6.2021)
- legislation
- website of the ministry
Description:
Since the 1990s, the Federal Ministry of Education has made it possible to test ethics teaching as an alternative compulsory subject.
Following audits the Court of Audit stated in its report that pilot projects should as quickly as possible be transferred to regular schooling.
The federal government will now implement ethics as a mandatory object in upper secondary level II for all those pupils who do not follow a denominational religious education.
The high number of locations requires a gradual roll-out.
As of this year, all students who do not take part in religious instruction must attend ethics classes in the fifth grades of AHS and the first grades of VET schools and colleges (BMHS). Previously, this was only the case at some schools as part of pilot projects. The amount is two hours per week. In the following school year, this obligation will be extended to the sixth grade of AHS and the second grade of BMHS, and so on. In 2024/25, ethics classes will be offered in all upper grades of AHS, and in the following year also in all BMHS.
Main objectives and measures:
- sound discussion of the basic questions of life-orientation (values, norms, non-violent coexistence in societies of high diversity, overcoming gender stereotypes, etc.)
- discussion of different philosophical, ideological, cultural and religious traditions and images of mankind
- independent reflection
- contribution to individual personality development
Implementation steps:
- drafting of curriculum (based on an existing draft curriculum)
- courses offered at University Colleges of Teacher Education (60 ECTS) from 2019/20
- according to current calculations, it is assumed that approx. 1,300 teachers will have to be further qualified.
- textbook production (05/2019-05/2021)
Funding:
The measure will be implemented in ascending order and in accordance with the budget coverage.
Monitoring and involved bodies: