This applies to both school offerings and those at universities. There are currently nine different training tracks for the career path to kindergarten.
The “heart” is still the classic five-year training at the educational institutions for elementary education (BAFEP), which are vocational secondary schools that end with a Matura. There are also options for colleges for elementary pedagogy (for adults with a high school diploma), technical schools for pedagogical assistants including a subsequent advanced course, a course for graduates of educational institutions for social pedagogy (BASOP) or the university course “Elementar+” (for assistants). the University of Graz.
Theoretically, personnel requirements might be covered
There are also university courses at universities of teacher education (PH) and a master’s degree at the University of Graz for graduates of a relevant subject, as well as similar longer PH courses for graduates of a non-subject subject and finally the university course in inclusive elementary education for those who specialize in inclusion want.
Theoretically, the BAFEPs alone might cover the personnel requirements arising from retirements and even produce a “surplus,” said Polaschek. However, around a third of graduates do not go into work, and many only work part-time. Therefore, we try to attract interested parties through various other training paths.
“Today it’s no longer regarding the salary”
Christof Laumer, spokesman for the BAFEP/BASOP directors, pointed out that even those graduates who do not move to kindergarten following their training remained following studying pedagogy elsewhere – for example as elementary school teachers. He saw the working conditions as the main hurdles to entering kindergarten – elementary school teachers, for example, would have significantly more preparation time than a kindergarten teacher. In addition, there are group sizes or a lack of support staff – but the employers (i.e. the states) are responsible for these questions. He wanted to dispel a prejudice: “Today it’s no longer regarding the salary.” Unlike before, the starting salaries for high school graduates are quite attractive.
There are new offers in the coming school or academic year in Villach (college), Mistelbach and Feldkirch (technical school for assistants), Linz (advanced course for technical school graduates), Bischofshofen, Graz and Vienna (BAFEP course for BASOP graduates) and Salzburg (university course for lateral entry into elementary education).
