BUND, countries, cities and municipalities joined a “reform partnership” at the LH conference in Salzburg at the LH conference in Salzburg in early June. By the end of 2026, substantial reforms in the areas of administration, energy, health and education are to be implemented. The kickoff took place in the field of education today. Representatives of the federal government, countries, municipalities and cities came together in the Ministry of Education in Vienna for a first working meeting.
All people participating in the kickoff session emphasize that the formation of our children is the basis for the successful future of Austria. A fair and opportunities -oriented education system should challenge and promote all children, leave nobody behind and prepare them as best as possible for the challenges of the future.
In order to strengthen opportunities for opportunities, performance and competence orientation, extensive reforms are planned in the field of education. Regional differences, excessive bureaucracy and stagnating basic skills require clear responsibilities, more school autonomy and targeted simplifications, according to the participants and participants in unison.
The reform relies on a clear distribution of tasks, more personal responsibility for schools and modern school administration. Education is thought holistically-from early funding to medium maturity to the Matura-and is based on international best practice examples. Particular attention is paid to the expansion of good interfaces into further educational paths: be it in an apprenticeship, direct career start or tertiary training at universities and universities.
The following objectives were therefore discussed in today’s working session of the “Reform Partnership” in the field of education:
1. Create clear responsibilities and reliable structures in the education system – through transparent regulations across all educational phases
2. Stronger school autonomy for more quality – with clear responsibilities and expanded open spaces, taking into account the individual needs of pupils and challenges in schools
3. Structural modernization of the education system – through effective organization, contemporary resource control and promotion of innovative approaches to education and teaching
The first working meeting of the reform partnership group Education was constructive and shaped by common reform will, further meetings were agreed.
In addition Minister of Education Christoph Return: “The first working meeting on the reform partnership in the field of education fulfills me with confidence that it will be possible to implement an urgently needed and sustainable reform in the educational sector. I have felt the willingness of this reform for everyone present and working together on the implementation. The goal is clear: a slender, dynamic and contemporary education system that enables the best education for our children and adolescents!”
“The resources in the education sector have to be used in such a way that they benefit directly to lessons in the classroom. The primary goal is that children can read, write and calculate at the end of their school career and at the same time get our Austrian way of life conveyed,” says ÖVP education spokesman Nico Marchetti.
SPÖ training spokesman Heinrich Himmer added:
“For us it is clear: The education of our children must not depend on the place of residence or the monitoring of the parents. We want a school for everyone, more support and learning support for the pupils and a strong expansion of places in elementary pedagogy. Negotiations in the federal-state reform partnership must also be the expansion of all-day schools.
Community Association President Johannes Pressl To the kick-off task reform:
“The reform pressure in the education sector is large, at the same time it opens up a great opportunity. We want to unklown responsibilities and financial flows and, above all, ask the question of what we want to achieve with education. For the municipalities, this means that school maintenance clearly separates from pedagogy and in the future we will no longer settle the entire assistance staff. In return Financing rules.
“In order to meet the major challenges in the field of education, the Austrian city association has been committed to reforms for a long time. It needs tasks, clear responsibilities and a cooperation of all participants, so that education remains a strong cornerstone of our future. ‘School staff from a hand’ would also lead to more efficiency in the administration. It is essential for us that the entire area of education is secured and sufficiently qualified Personnel is available. City Association General Secretary Thomas Weninger
“It is important that we take the step into a comprehensive educational reform together. It is clear that the results must not only be on paper, but also have to arrive noticeably with our students, educators and parents. In Lower Austria, in the sense of a good and trusting partnership with the schools and kindergartens, we will actively participate in the reform – so that education works in the best possible way” Lower Austria Bilding Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister.
The Carinthian education councilor Daniel Fellner added:
“Austria needs a modern educational system! Digital learning aids, innovative curricula and a future -oriented organization are example partial areas in which we invest in a targeted manner. These goals must not fail because of outdated structures. We are doing everything we can to make this important step, because we are making our education system and thus Austria fit for the challenges of the next generations!”