After ten years, teacher training is being reformed. There had been a desire for a change for a long time, but the Greens put the brakes on it. The lack of teaching staff may have been an important factor in the reduction in training time.
“We are shortening teacher training, which is very long compared to the rest of the world, and are creating a modern course of study that meets the demands and requirements of schools in the 21st century,” said Education Minister Martin Polaschek (VP), praising the reform. “We make it easier to get from the lecture hall to the classroom,” assisted the green club chairwoman Sigrid Maurer.
Currently, a teacher training course for the primary level (elementary school) consists of four years of Bachelor’s plus one year of Master’s, and for the secondary level (AHS, BMHS, middle school) it consists of four years of Bachelor’s and two years of Master’s. In the future, all prospective young teachers should complete a three-year bachelor’s and a two-year master’s course. For secondary school teachers, this means a reduction of one year. The switch to the new curricula might take place as early as this year for primary school teachers, and for secondary school teachers from 2025/26. Anyone in the old study system can switch to the new training.
realism
Protective functions for young teachers
Due to the staff shortage, many young teachers already have a bachelor’s degree in the class. The accompanying starting phase in the job, the so-called induction phase, should be credited towards the part-time master’s degree.
“Protective functions” are also planned for young teachers who teach in schools following completing their bachelor’s degree. This is intended to prevent burnout, explained Maurer. They should receive a maximum of half a teaching obligation, should not have to take on a class leadership role and should not have to give any lessons that are not related to the subject. There will be new subjects in training with “Inclusive Pedagogy” and “German as a Second Language”. In the future, secondary school teachers will be able to study subject bundles such as MINT.
Support comes from the highest compulsory school teachers’ union, Paul Kimberger. “It is entirely in line with our demands that there be equivalent training for all teachers, which will be shortened accordingly,” he said. Upper Austria’s Education Councilor Christine Haberlander supports the plans and announced an additional state campaign to attract more people to the teaching profession.
The SPÖ supports shortening the training, the FPÖ spoke of a botch. The Neos saw a double reduction, as the bachelor’s degree was shortened and the induction phase was taken into account. The Chamber of Commerce demanded that there be additional compulsory further training for teachers.
Author
Annette Gantner
Internal politics editor
Annette Gantner
