Review on Migrant Education Austria First of all … thanks to Deborah, Claire and Christian for the excellent and comprehensive Country Note! Review raised and strenghtened the debate on migrant education in Austria A broad stakeholder process took place Further discussions: NAP (National Action Plan on Integration – launched by the Ministry of Interior) and Discussion on the Green Book for Migration & Mobility

Review on Migrant Education Austria The Austrian approach until 2008 (3 columns) First language support for the most important language groups (20 mother tongues) Support in German as a second language (GSL) + permanent extension of support measures ‚Intercultural Education‘ as one of 13 Educational principles established (1990)

General Challenges Need for a coherent strategy in migrant education Balance between universal and targeted measures: equity measures for all students irrespective of their cultural / social origin - targeted measures for immigrant students (language support, mentoring, …) Fragmentation of educational decision-making (federal – provincial level) High selectivity of the Austrian system – system reproduces social / educational disadvantages

Challenges at structural level Improvement of early childhood education (new compulsory last kindergarten year, more awareness concerning support for disadvanted children,…) Changes in teacher and educator training - need for compulsory modules in pre-service training, more offers nessary in in-service-training - need for compulsory modules in pre-service training, more offers nessary in in-service-training Improved collaboration between institutions / all levels of education all levels of education

Challenges at school level Challenges at school level Schools and teachers are not enough prepared for linguistic/cultural diversity Diversity is often seen as a problem or deficit, not as a resource or normal situation Education Principle ‚ICL‘ is partly unknown or insufficiently put into practice Quality of instruction and support differs

Challenges at school level Positive approach is often missing, lack of knowledge about language acquistion & plurilingualismus & multiculturalism Quality/conditions of mother tongue teaching Schools differ in quality and pedagogical answers across Austria Good practice is not always transferred

General Recommendations Clarifying responsibilities for the implementation of measures Funding must be earmarked to meet the objectives and the needs of students The inclusiveness of the school system should be increased – equity is a topic! The quality of the instruction and teacher training need sustainable improvements

Policy Orientations Overview - Policy Priorities I Enhancing participation and quality in early childhood education and care childhood education and care II Providing adequate language support to all students students III Improving teaching and learning environments environments IV Engaging parents, communities and schools to support immigrant students schools to support immigrant students

Enhancing participation & quality in ECEC Promote participation of migrant children Improve the pedagogical quality and support for migrant children Language assessments should include mother tongue proficiency Offer targeted language stimulation in ECEC Involve and use the resources of the migrant parents and communities

Adequate language support Change the deficit oriented approach into a positive orientation > acknowledge the linguistic/cultural diversity in schools Strenghten language support and standardize the support programmes > legal right to receive support as long as a certain language level is reached Integrate language and content learning – all teachers shape the acquistion of language

Adequate language support Improve mothertongue teaching and increase the benefits of it Improve the training, the status and the working conditions for mother tongue teaching Engage more teachers with another first language than German – role models!

Improving Teaching and Learning Environments Accept responsibility of school leaders for a positive approach to diversity Strenghten the competencies of teachers with respect to diversity > teacher training must reflect diverse schools/classrooms Train the trainer at teaching training colleges and universities – make them sensitive to cultural diversity

Improving Teaching and Learning Environments Identify good practice across Austria Make sure that effective practice is communicated and transferred Make research results available for teachers Strenghten the cooperation between ministry, teacher training institutions, municipality level and schools

Engage parents & communities Improve the parental and community involve- ment, especially for those from weak socio- economic background Find new ways of communication with parents Recognize parents as equal partners in education Promote local initiatives and provide outside school support Implement more whole-day schools

Outcomes of Ad-hoc Meetings Thanks for organizing it! Networking at international level is important, maybe more time for in dephts-discussions about comparable challenges / strategies / solutions would be helpful for us