The Austrian Education System Doris Sygmund KPH Wien/Krems June 2008

basic facts kindergarten 57% are open all day 90% five - year olds language support fees vary according to provinces training schools for kindergarten teachers

basic facts Compulsory education – 9 years 4 years of primary school 4 years of lower secondary school *academic secondary schools *regular secondary schools 1 year of pre-vocational school September 1st / six year – olds

basic facts upper secondary schools (general education, business, ICT, tourism…) special schools ( for children with special needs) homeschooling private schools (churches, bilingual…)

basic facts Tertiary education Universities (1365) Post-secondary/tertiary colleges Fachhochschule (science, ICT, job related) Bologna process

facts and figures 1774 Maria Theresia 6 years of compulsory education 1918 Otto Glöckel optimal education of all children regardless of gender and age 1975 co-educational state schools 1993 integration of children with special needs

facts and figures 2006/ pupils since 2000 minus 11,8 % in primary education % plus university graduates early school leavers – below EU average 10,9%

facts and figures 2005 education expenditure ,3 million (5.4% of gross domestic product)

primary school 1class teacher (entire instruction) 80% women marks and verbal assessment (years1+2) cross-curricular approach modern foreign languages

schools for 10 – 14 year olds regular secondary schools ability groups working world low social status teachers – colleges municipality money academic secondary schools one ability group university high prestige teachers- university federal government money

Reforms ? standardised tests – years 4 and 8 – results not publicised selection criteria at an early age children with non-Austrian background limited language knowledge (33% in Vienna)

Reforms? Social prestige of secondary academic schools education / income of parents Lower Austria primary school – 6 years, period of transition

Links and more detailed information view/324/1/69/?swlang=enhttp:// view/324/1/69/?swlang=en detailed description of Austrian school system in English Graphical Overview of the Austrian Education System