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Planning policy

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ECEC teachers

The planning for the demand for kindergarten places and the connected demand for kindergarten teachers is the responsibility of the federal provinces and the private/ecclesiastical provider organisations. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

In 2008 the Federal Institute for Educational Research, Innovation and Development of the Austrian School System (BIFIE) was established to continuously improve the school system. On 1 July 2020, pursuant to the IQS Act the BIFIE became IQS – Federal Institute for Quality Assurance in the Austrian School System. The IQS provides both statistical and also content-related expertise for educational policy discussions and the management of the education sector in Austria.

The reporting system also includes demographic, administrative and organisational data on teachers. In this way, the IQS supports the medium-term and longer-term staff planning for the demand for teachers of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF). 

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Entry to the profession 

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ECEC teachers

Vacancies for kindergarten teachers are advertised by the respective provider of the institution (federal provinces, municipalities, private/ecclesiastical institutions). A requirement for employment is specialist training (graduation from a teacher training college for early childhood education or a VET course for early childhood education).

The profession of elementary education teacher is a regulated profession that requires specific training at a BAfEP or the completion of the university course “Elementary Education” (60 ECTS) or “Lateral Entry Elementary Education” (120 ECTS) at a university college of teacher education, or the degree of the university course “Elementar+” (120 ECTS-Credits) or the master’s program “Elementary Education” (120 ECTS-Credits) at the University of Graz is required.

The federal law on the principles regarding professional employment requirements for elementary educators applies throughout Austria. In addition, each federal state sets further framework conditions in state laws and regulations.

Examples: Kindergarten teachers in Burgenland, leading groups at mixed-language/ bilingual kindergartens have to prove their knowledge of the language of the ethnic group concerned (Croatian or Hungarian) whereas kindergarten teachers in mixed-language/ bilingual kindergartens in Carinthia have to prove their knowledge in the Slovenian language. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

In the area of teachers, sovereignty – depending on the school type – is allocated to various responsibilities (federal government, provinces, private educational establishment). In the area of public compulsory schools the provinces are responsible, in the area of public intermediate and upper secondary schools / colleges, responsibility lies with the federal government. The posts for teachers are advertised publicly. Depending on the responsibility (federal government, province, private educational establishment), these are published

• on the website of the Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF)
• since 1^st July 2023 on EVI – the electronic announcement and information platform of the federal government respectively on the  job platform for the public service in succession of the terminated print version of the Wiener Zeitung newspaper or
• on the website of the respective regional education board or
• on the website of the respective provincial government or
• on the website of the respective private educational establishment.

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Requirements for being employed are:

• proof of Austrian citizenship/unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market
• teaching qualification for the corresponding school type or completion of a diploma, master’s or doctoral programme from a recognised tertiary educational establishment
• for lateral entrants to the teaching profession: additionally proof of practice for activities carried out independently or on a freelance basis.

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Preferences: In addition to the afore mentioned requirements, applicants with a full teaching qualification come into consideration primarily. Applicants who are in service as contract teachers or educators up to the end of the school year and, because of the lack of demand, cannot continue to be employed in their previous capacity, but also teachers returning from working abroad, in particular lecturers, have preference over applicants who are not currently working if the same requirements are otherwise met. Applicants who are in service and want to be transferred have priority over new applicants and graduates of teaching internships. Applicants who are not (fully) qualified to teach can be considered only if no fully qualified applicants are available [tender details] .

The application is via the respective regional education boards/the respective provincial governments: after registration on the respective online platform, the applicant is given a points account based on the assessments of the VET qualification and other criteria (e.g. professional experience, teaching internship). Depending on the quality of the application, the applicants are assessed, and corresponding positions allocated.

If no suitable person is found to fill a position, people can also be accepted who, initially, do not fulfil the requirements entirely if it is expected that they will fulfil these at a later point in time. This regulation is applied in particular for lateral entrants in VET subjects. For teachers who entered the teaching profession for the first time since 1 September 2019, the employment relationship begins with a compulsory one-year induction period which has to be completed positively in order to continue being employed in the teaching profession. 

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Induction

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ECEC teachers

For kindergarten teachers there is no induction period. The corresponding practical training is integrated in the training. Some providers offer mentoring for new kindergarten teachers who have only just completed their training. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

Since school year 2019/20 an induction “year” (6 to 12 months) is integral part of the “Pädagog:innenausbildung NEU” for new teachers. In contrast to the previous model, which foresaw for academic secondary schools referring the transition into the profession a teaching internship as a training relationship, the induction phase already takes place within an employment contract.

During the induction period the teachers are supervised and assisted by an active and experienced teacher colleague as a mentor. The focus of mentoring is on collegial analysis, reflection, guidance and support in relation to the demands when accessing the profession. The school head reports on the performance of the teacher in the induction period and may arrange development and support measures.

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Professional status

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ECEC teachers

There is no general statement regarding the employment relationships (duration, type of contract, fixed-term) for the occupational field of early childhood education and care. The respective legal regulations are determined by the individual federal provinces within the scope of their responsibility for the ECEC sector. The legal requirements for kindergarten teachers in private establishments are regulated by provisions in various collective agreements. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

As a rule, the employment relationship as a teacher is in the beginning based on a service contract of limited or unlimited duration. Employment requires the availability of a corresponding post as included in the budget and the required number of weekly lessons.

Basically, service contracts must be for an unlimited duration. Term limitations can arise

1. from the contract (in particular with a special contract for substitution or for another temporary need) and/or
2. from the law on account of the induction period.

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If the duration of fixed-term employment relationships entered with a teacher exceeds five years, the last entered employment relationship will apply as a tenured employment relationship from this point.

Teachers at public compulsory schools are in an employment relationship under private law or public law with the province and teachers at federal schools with the federal government. Specific employment tasks (pedagogical and instructional core tasks) and employment obligations (e.g. compliance with period of service, notification of actions liable to result in criminal proceedings, etc.) are set out in the employment laws. 

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Replacement measures

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ECEC teachers

No general statement can be made with regard to employment relationships (duration, type of contract, fixed-term) for the occupational field of ECEC. The respective legal regulations are determined by the individual federal provinces within the scope of their responsibility for the early childhood education sector. The legal requirements for kindergarten teachers in private establishments are regulated by provisions in various collective agreements. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

The teacher has to be allocated either directly to a school or to the pool of substitute teachers. Employment as a substitute teacher must not exceed two years without the consent of the provincial contract teacher. In this capacity they teach at schools where there is a longer-term need for a substitute.

If a teacher is temporarily absent, he/she is replaced by the other teachers working at the school (substitution). In case of a longer-term absence (sabbatical, parental leave, care leave) there are two options:

• either the lessons taught by the teacher who is unavailable for work (more than two weeks) are assigned to one or more other teachers on a permanent basis; teachers already at the corresponding school must be used first
• or a replacement teacher is employed for the time of the other teacher’s inability to work. 

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Supporting measures

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ECEC teachers

The offer of support measures for kindergarten staff is the responsibility of the federal province in whose jurisdiction the ECEC service / institution falls, or of any municipal or private/ecclesiastical provider organisation itself. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

If necessary, teachers are supported by their superiors and, if appropriate, by tutors and the school psychology service. In addition, university colleges of teacher education offer one-on-one and group supervision. The Center for Teacher Education at the University of Vienna offers group supervision as professional support especially for young teachers (secondary level I + II) when starting their careers.

In addition, on the initiative of the BMBWF, BMSGPK and ÖJRK, GIVE (abbreviation for Gesundheit - Information - Vernetzung - Entwicklung) - a service center for health promotion in Austrian schools was set up. This also provides information, materials and other support information in the areas of health promotion for teachers with a focus on burnout among teachers, strengthening individual resources and optimizing work processes. 

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Salaries

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ECEC teachers

The remuneration of kindergarten teachers in a public-law employment relationship is subject to the remuneration law of the federal provinces.

In the payment provisions for employees of private kindergartens a minimum monthly starting salary for kindergarten teachers without group leading or management function of around EUR 2,000.00 - EUR 2,600.00 gross (minimum wage scale) is stipulated. In response to staff shortages, individual federal states offer significantly higher monthly salaries or / as well as additional incentives such as attractive working time models (6th week of vacation), individual further training and company health promotion etc. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

Since September 1, 2019, all new teachers started under the "Pedagogical Service" service and salary law. Teachers that joined between 2013/14 and 2018/19 had the right to choose between the old and new service law.

The new employment law brings equality for teachers in compulsory schools and secondary schools and thus also corresponds to the new teacher training. With the second Amendment to Service Code in 2022 (introduction of the new Teacher Service Code) the different salary classes for teachers were adjusted. [More details] 

Teachers' salaries are based on job levels (depending on training and years of service) and are negotiated annually by the public service union. In addition, there is a fundamental distinction between pragmatic teachers (with civil servant status under the old civil service law) and contract teachers. The minimum starting remuneration in the new Teacher Service Code is EUR 3,116.10 per month for compulsory school teachers. Other factors for calculating the salary are the assumption of additional functions and activities at the school, the allocation of the pay level (seven pay levels) on account of possible recognition of pre-service periods and subject remuneration for subjects requiring a particularly high amount of support.

What refers lateral entrants the new Teacher Service Code (in particular teachers of VET subjects) regulates that up to twelve years of prior employment and pre-service periods can be taken into consideration for the salary classification leading to a significant higher pay level from the start. Additional monthly supplements to the minimum salary of teachers in the new Teacher Service Code can be:

• up to EUR 563.20 for teaching in subjects in which extra work is expected in preparation or follow-up activities (e.g. German, foreign languages)
• EUR 160.10 for special functions (e.g. educational counselling, mentoring, learning design, coordination of career guidance, special and therapeutic education, practical school teaching, etc.)
• Between EUR 426.90 to EUR 767.60 for administrative support and representation of the school management
• Between EUR 746.10 to EUR 906.10 for the position of head of a department
• Between EUR 320.20 to EUR 480.30 for the position of head of a subject
• Between EUR 480.30 and EUR 1,758.90 for a school management position depending on the size of the school.

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For teachers in the old Service Code cf. Emoluments Act 1956 the old Service Code also stipulates service bonuses for specific additional activities. 

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Working time and holydays

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ECEC teachers

All kindergarten teachers in a public-law employment relationship have the statutory holiday entitlement of five weeks (25 vacation days) per employee per year. It depends on the opening hours and the closure days throughout the calender year when vacation is taken. According to recent data kindergarten institutions had 24.7 closure days in average, ranging between 12.3 closure days in Vienna and 29.5 closure days in Tyrol. The working time is specified by the respective establishments and is oriented towards the established posts and the needs of the legal guardians. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

The teaching duties are based on:

• Act on Staff Employed by Private-law Contract 
• Service Code for Province Teachers employed under Private-law Contracts 1966
• Tenured federal teachers under the 1979 Public Service Act 
• Tenured provincial teachers under the Service Act for teachers employed by provinces 
• New Teacher Service Code 2013 (both federal and provincial teachers)
• Service Code Amendment 2020 (both federal and provincial teachers)
• Service Code Amendment 2022 (both federal and provincial teachers)

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Useful links.

The obligation to teach (one lesson = 50 minutes) with direct contact to the pupils was brought into line with the 2013, 2020 and 2022 Amendment to the Service Code in the new Teacher Service Code for all school types. According to the recent service and salary regulations the teaching obligation of a full-time contract teacher is 24 hours per week. Of these, 22 hours per week are allocated to teaching and qualified supervision of learning times as part of day care or respectively 20 hours per week for subjects requiring profound preparation and follow-up work at upper-secondary level. Additional tasks are to be performed for 2 hours per week, e.g. in parent/pupil consulting, as a form teacher or mentor, in the quality management of the school or in coordinative / counselling functions e.g. in learning support and remedial education. 

Reductions in the number of hours are possible under the following circumstances:

• For school heads: from a school size of more than ten full-employment equivalents a school head is exempt from the obligation to teach. In a school with fewer than ten full-employment equivalents (small school) an exemption of 25% to 50% is possible. School management training is required if a school manager position is assumed.
• Teachers can be exempt from the obligation to teach for a sabbatical of at least six and a maximum of twelve months during a timeframe of two to five full school years with a proportionate reduction of pay.
• Depending on their employment relationship, teachers who cannot teach or cannot teach to the full extent have the following options for leave or a reduction in the number of hours: 
  • parental and care leave
  • reduction in the number of hours after parental or care leave with a reduction in the salary payment
  • leave for necessary stays at a health resort
  • a reduction of the teaching obligation for up to two years with a reduction in the salary payment on account of health reasons  
  • a reduction of the teaching obligation for up to five years with a reduction in the salary payment on account of subject-specific continuing education and training
  • a reduction of the teaching obligation by up to ten years with a reduction in the salary payment on account of carrying out other activities corresponding with  the task of an Austrian school

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Obligation to teach of teachers in the old Federal Teacher Service Code:

The obligation to teach is for 20 hours per week. These hours per week are allocated to certain units of value (oriented towards the school type, school subject and class size), which gives the scope of activities of the teachers in the following areas:

• teaching incl. counselling on teaching activities
• preparation and follow-up activities and corrections
• other activities (mentoring, support in practice schools, career guidance, administra­tion, etc.)

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Obligation to teach of teachers in the old Provincial Teacher Service Code:

The annual standard of provincial teachers in the old Teacher Service Code is 1,736 or 1,776 hours per year. The total number of hours per school year, which corresponds with the posts allocated on account of the number of pupils at the school, must be attributed to the extent of 720 to 792 hours per year for the teaching obligation (activities in contact with pupils), to the extent of 600 to 660 hours per year for preparing classes and follow-up activities and also correction work. The remaining number of hours per year must be used for other activities.

Regulations on vacation times:

Teachers are entitled to a vacation during the school holidays unless special duties (standing in for the school head, taking exams) are prioritized. The "recreational vacation substitute" only applies to the main summer vacation.

Special leave (with full salary) (e.g. for continuing education and training, for personal reasons such as marriage, the birth of a child, death in the family, relocation) can be granted upon application. In addition there is the possibility of taking a leave of absence (cf. text above). In both cases this must not be in conflict with any obligatory service-related requirements or reasons. Otherwise no salary will be paid out.

On the occasion of the birth of a child, teachers can take parental leave to take care of their child up to the age of two years. The parental leave can be divided and shared with the other parent two times.

Teachers are entitled to part-time employment of limited duration. 

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Promotion, advancement

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ECEC teachers

The profession of elementary teachers, which entitles people to lead groups, is a regulated profession that requires the successful completion of precisely defined training paths. This includes either training at a BAfEP or the successful completion of the two university courses “Elementary Pedagogy” (60 ECTS-Credits) or “Lateral Entry Elementary Pedagogy” (120 ECTS-Credits), or the successful completion of the university course “Elementar+” (120 ECTS-Credits) or the successful completion of the master's degree in “Elementary Education” (120 ECTS-Credits), both at the University of Graz.

The Federal Law on the Principles Regarding the Professional Employment Requirements for Elementary Education Teachers applies to the whole of Austria; each federal state also specifies the framework conditions for employment (e.g. opening times or number of children per group) in provincial laws and regulations.

Kindergarten teachers with relevant working experience can upgrade to subsequently being responsible managers of a kindergarten. Another (career) opportunity is the function of a kindergarten inspector. Corresponding continuing education and training is regulated specifically for each federal province and, in some cases, also for each provider.

There are also other career paths, such as the opportunity to become a mentor for aspiring or young professionals.

To further professionalise the education of kindergarten teachers, bachelor’s degree courses have been developed in recent years which are specifically aimed at trained kindergarten teachers and (future) managers in particular:

• Since the 2022/23 academic year, the university course “Inclusive Elementary Education” (4 semesters, 20 modules) at university colleges of teacher education has been offering elementary educators a practice-oriented qualification to become an “Inclusive Elementary Educator” (with authorization to lead groups). Admission to the university course requires completed training in the relevant professional field: The target group are people who have completed training as an elementary teacher. The part-time bachelor’s programme “Early Childhood Education: Inclusion and Leadership” comprises 6 semesters/180 ECTS and can be completed at the university colleges of teacher education and ecclesiastical university colleges of teacher education in Vienna and Lower Austria. The programme is concluded with a Bachelor of Education (BEd).
• The part-time bachelor’s programme “Social Management in Early Childhood Education” at the University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna comprises 5 semesters with 180 ECTS and is concluded with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (BA).

• The part-time bachelor’s programme “Early Childhood Education” comprises 180 ECTS in 6 semesters and is concluded with a Bachelor of Education (BEd). The programme can be completed at the university colleges of teacher education and ecclesiastical university colleges of teacher education in Salzburg, Upper Austria, Carinthia, Burgenland and Styria. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

Within the school’s sphere of tasks, teachers not only carry out teaching and educational activities but also fulfil other duties connected with the teaching position (such as administering the collection of teaching materials, conducting form teacher activities, doing the administration and managing workshops).

Advancement options for teachers include school management and school supervision. 

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Mobility and transfers

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ECEC teachers

Kindergarten teachers in provincial or municipal service may, with their consent, be assigned to another kindergarten for substitution if necessary. Kindergarten teachers in private kindergartens work exclusively for the establishment/provider with which they have a valid employment relationship. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

Within the school’s sphere of tasks, teachers not only carry out teaching and educational activities but also fulfil other duties connected with the teaching position (such as administering the collection of teaching materials, conducting form teacher activities, doing the administration and managing workshops).

Advancement options for teachers include school management and school supervision (school quality management). 

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Dismissals

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ECEC teachers

For kindergarten teachers in provincial or municipal service the reasons and possibilities for ending the employment relationship are set out in the respective employment contracts. Here they are subject to the general service law regulations for provincial or municipal employees.

For kindergarten teachers in private kindergartens the reasons and possibilities for ending the employment relationship are set out in the respective employment contracts with the kindergarten operators. In this case the general labour law provisions are applied. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

Apart from retirement, the employment relationship can be terminated both by the teacher and by the employer (federal government or provincial government). The employment relationship can be terminated by dismissal due to dissatisfying success as teacher or as a result of

• lack of physical and mental suitability (diagnosed by a public health officer)
• non-compliant behaviour
• a judgement of a disciplinary procedure
• revocation of the work contract
• criminal offence of more than one year
• loss of labour requirement by the school
• or by the teacher herself or himself

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The types of termination of employment relationships differ depending on whether the teacher is a civil servant or a contractual employee. A pragmatized employment relationship (civil servant) can only be terminated by the employer by means of a legal act. 

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Retirement and pensions

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ECEC teachers

Kindergarten teachers in provincial or municipal service have an employment relationship regulated by public law. The statutory retirement age is 60 to 65 years. In addition to retirement on account of age, Austrian law stipulates further types of retirement (e.g. retirement because of invalidity or early retirement (with at least 540 insurance months or 45 working years) the flexible retirement scheme called “Korridorpension” from a minimum age of 62 with at least 480 insurance months or 40 working years. In the case of contractual employees the employment relationship ends by termination. The statutory retirement age of women is 60 to 65 years. From 2024 until 2033 the retirement age of women will be gradually raised from 60 to 65 years and herewith adjusted to the regular retirement age for men. 

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Teachers at primary and secondary level

Officials though retirement remain officials for life.

Currently according to data of Statistics Austria for the school year 2021/22 11 % of the teachers (in total 123.152 headcount without teachers in parental leave or absence) are older than 60 years. 0,5 % or less than 600 teachers were older than 64 years in the school year 2021/22. Due to significant request by the school administration teacher may work longer being employed with special contracts for a minimum of one and a maximum of five years. Austrian law stipulates further types of retirement (e.g. retirement because of invalidity or the flexible retirement scheme called Korridorpension (from a minimum age of 62 with a minimum insurance period of 40 years).

In the case of contractual teachers the employment relationship ends by termination. As with officials, the statutory retirement age of men is 65. From 2024 until 2033 the retirement age of women will be gradually raised from 60 to 65 years and herewith adjusted to the regular retirement age for men.