The Educational committee The majority of the National Council today spoke in favor of the introduction of orientation lessons. Immigrants, caring for children and adolescents of school age who have no previous experience from a constant education system, should in future be prepared for a maximum of six months in orientation classes for classes in the Austrian school system. According to the draft law, your own, including class, school, school location and cross-school groups, can be set up for this. The transition to a German funding class should be able to take place flexibly. This “creates an additional modular area in the education sector,” said Minister of Education Christoph Return in the committee. He emphasized that orientation lessons would be a “special form of German support classes”. Orientation classes should be established as required – i.e. not nationwide.
A motion for a resolution of the Greens, who was training group leadership: on the inside to Tertiary level, was rejected in the committee. The majority of the report by Education Minister Christoph Return on the EU project in 2025 in the field of education was noted. The committee members unanimously took note of the work report in 2024 of the national coordination office for the national qualification framework.
With the voices of the coalition parties, the FPÖ’s proposals for more protection were adjourned for more protection of children and adolescents in schools as well as for mandatory instrumental lessons for prospective elementary school teachers. A motion for a resolution of the Greens on the issue of the expansion of school psychology and school social work was also adjourned.
Introduction of orientation lessons
The Education Committee today advised on a government template that contains three changes in the law in various subject areas: With a change in the School Education Act, so -called orientation classes are to be established from September 1, 2025. In addition, the introduction of digital students should be made possible by a change in the University Act and new training opportunities for elementary educators: inside the Fundamases Act should be included (128 d.B.).
In the committee debate, Barbara Neßler (Greens) said that orientation classes were generally to be welcomed. She wanted to know whether they only affect “newcomers” or students: inside who are already in Austria. Make sure that this initiative contributes to the continuation of the German support classes. Because in their view, it makes no sense to teach students: in the inside with no or a few knowledge of German “in separated classes”. Nico Marchetti (ÖVP) said that orientation lessons are already intended for children who are already in Austria. The aim is to “make you fit” for school lessons before you enter the regular school system. The introduction of orientation lessons, just like the decision on the stop of the family reunification, is a “sensible measure” for the education system, says Marchetti. Paul Stich (SPÖ) called the introduction of orientation lessons a “step in the right direction”. Martina von Künsberg Sarre (Neos) spoke of a “good step” towards integration. Hermann Brückl (FPÖ) said that his parliamentary group rejected parts of the draft law and therefore does not agree to this in the committee. He announced that the FPÖ in the plenum would request a separate vote on the changes contained in the design.
With regard to the expansion of the training paths in elementary pedagogy provided for in the draft law, return was convinced that new target groups can be obtained for activity in this area. A proposal application by the Greens was rejected (300/A (e). In it, Barbara Neßler (Greens) in particular advocated that group leaders should be trained in the future at the tertiary level. A “basic bachelor’s degree” has been designed for a long time that this should now actually be rolled out. It was only recently found in a UNESCO report that 25 % of the quality of education on the respective ladder: inside, Neßler led to the meeting.
SPÖ representative Silvia Kumpan-Akacs admitted that there was a need to catch up on this question, but also referred to the current training offensive. ÖVP MP Agnes Totter argued similarly, who informed that the federal government was responsible for the qualification of employees: inside in the field of elementary pedagogy.
Protection of children and adolescents in schools
According to media reports on incidents at Viennese schools with an influencer, the free “serious security gaps” in the Austrian education system locate and, with a resolution application introduced by Lisa Schuch-Gubik (FPÖ), requested the binding examination of external persons, mandatory transparency in external school events, the strengthening of the qualification of the qualification of the pedagogical personnel and school management Child protection and consistent procedure for breaches of duty (289/A (e)).
Nico Marchetti (ÖVP) submitted the anti -junction with reference to the introduction of mandatory child protection concepts at schools that had been decided last year, as well as the package of measures decided after the attack in Graz, which is now being developed. Barbara Neßler (Greens) also dealt with the mandatory child protection concepts in schools last year and advocated to expand them to the club. Christoph Steiner (FPÖ) criticized that external people are invited to schools and whose background is not checked in advance. Heinrich Himmer (SPÖ) pointed out that a screening was difficult in advance. However, it was “clearly regulated” that the responsible educator always remains responsible and must be there if people are present.
Expansion of school psychology and school social work
A motion for a resolution of the Greens to expand school psychology and school social work (324/A (e)). According to the application, every student should have access to social psychological care and at least one full -time job for school social work should be available at every school location. Additional support is needed, because teachers could not cover all of this alone, said Barbara Neßler (Greens) and criticized that the range of school psychology and school social work was currently “more than inadequate”.
There are different escalation levels and not in every problem a psychologist is necessary – so it should be used for a wide range, argued Nico Marchetti (ÖVP). The number of school psychologists: Inside, it cannot be the only criterion that “courage to differentiate” the offer was needed, said Marchetti and led the expansion of the “Council on Wire” hotline as an example. Martina von Künsberg Sarre (Neos) also emphasized that the support staff at schools were gradually expanded and this was also budgeted. Even before the attack in Graz, the need was recognized and this was anchored in the government program, according to Künsberg Sarre. Heinrich Himmer (SPÖ) said that it was possible to make this topic visible and it was now clear that multi -professional teams were needed at schools.
FPÖ for mandatory instrumental lessons for prospective elementary school teachers
The FPÖ advocated introducing the mandatory instrumental lessons as a “integral component of the primary level” teacher (273/A (e)). Since the switch to the Bachelor-Master system in the course of the “Pedagogue Education”, learning an accompanying instrument such as the piano or guitar has no longer been a mandatory part of the training of elementary school teachers. Musical-practical skills would only be conveyed via elective modules. According to a decision -making application by the FPÖ, this led to “a noticeable weakening of this area of education”. Wendelin Mölzer (FPÖ) criticized a “loss of quality in music lessons” in the committee.
Fiona Fiedler (NEOS) and Agnes Totter (ÖVP) referred to music lessons at educational universities. According to Totter, musical education is included in the curricula of the teaching degree for elementary school for elementary school forces.
EU projects: strengthen competitiveness through education
The topic in the committee was also two reports. Majority, without the votes of the FPÖ, the report by Minister of Education Christoph Return was noted on current EU projects (III-145 d.B.). The central education initiative of the European Commission is the “Union of Skills” this year. It should contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the EU by giving people with the necessary skills for the changing world of work. According to the report, the “progressive implementation” of the European educational area is also one of the focus for this year. In the period from 2021-2027, an EU budget of 28 billion ꞓ is available for the ERASMUS+ program. Around 78 million ꞓ are planned for Austria in 2025 (2024: 67 million ꞓ).
A good cause is the promotion of talents contained in the “Union of Skills”, said Rudolf Taschner (ÖVP). He also emphasized that the education sector was a matter for the nation states and that there should be no submission of competencies to the EU in this area. The “Union of Skills” is about finding synergies and cooperation within the EU and learning from each other, the Minister of Education replied Return. In the field of education, no relocation of competence is planned to the EU, instead strategies and timetables are used that are not legally binding, said return. The “Union of Skills” stipulate that fewer than 15 % of young people read, write, math, math, natural sciences and digital skills by 2030. At the same time, at least 15 % of young people should achieve top performance in these areas. Austria is currently “far away” of both indicators, said the Minister of Education, referring to the catch -up in the field of education that he has already announced.
When asked by Martina von Künsberg Sarre (NEOS) about the Erasmus+ program, the return reported that the demand for it was great and that there was recently also a new maximum value at apprentices that used the program. By Barbara Neßler (Greens), asked what is done to ensure that people who are also socio -economically weaker can participate in the Erasmus+ program, recurrence emphasized that it is important for him to have a low -threshold access to the program.
Make national qualification frames more visible
The work report in 2024 was unanimously noted by the national coordination office for the national qualification framework (NQR). The NQR serves to assign educational qualifications to one of eight NQR qualification levels and is linked to the European quality framework. In 2024, nine qualifications could be re -recorded in it. In addition to the publications of the new assignments, a further 13 qualifications from the health sector were shown in the NQR Register, which have a legally regulated professional access (III-158 d.B.). Minister of Education Return emphasized that the NQR made education and degrees comparable and thus enhanced.
Christian Oxonitsch (SPÖ), Maria Neumann (ÖVP) and Barbara Neßler (Greens) addressed that the NQR was still little known to the population and asked the Minister of Education how to make it more transparent, more user -friendly and acquainted. Return said that there are already efforts in this regard and that you have excavated yourself with stakeholders, such as adult education institutions and social partners. A strategy paper has already been created for the further development of the NQR, according to return. (Conclusion Education Committee) Bea/Sue