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Head teachers in favour of Turkish Matura

Three quarters of high school (AHS) directors are in favour of introducing Turkish as a Matura exam subject, as well as a Turkish teaching diploma at Austrian universities.

Published: 11 June 2014 10:50 CEST

Head teachers in favour of Turkish Matura

Classroom. Photo: APA

This is according to a survey by human rights organization SOS Mitmensch, carried out among 50 school heads.

72 percent thought Turkish should be a Matura subject, and 76 percent thought it should be a teacher training diploma. Only in Carinthia was the majority not in favour of a Turkish Matura.

Most school directors thought that teaching Turkish as part of the foreign language curriculum would have a positive effect on Turkish students’ grammar and vocabulary, and would help them to learn other languages.

They also thought that it would be an incentive for more Turkish speakers to progress onto further education. Schools with a higher percentage of Turkish students were more open to the idea and thought it would help further their students’ potential.

"No student would be exempt from having to learn German and English. The intention is to give students the opportunity to deepen their often colloquial mother language skills and to provide the option of Turkish as a foreign language Matura," said SOS Mitmensch spokesman Alexander Pollak.

Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) said she could imagine Turkish being studied as a foreign language. However, she said learning German should be the priority, to enable students to integrate as fully as possible.

However, the right-wing FPÖ said introducing Turkish as a Matura subject would be "a slap in the face of any integration effort."

FPÖ education spokesman Walter Rosenkranz said that the Matura exams would be "watered down" if Turkish was introduced, and that the quality of high school education would be affected.

Other immigrant languages, such as Russian, Polish, or Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, can be studied for the Matura, but a Turkish Matura is currently only available as a pilot at Henriettenplatz night school in Vienna-Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus.

According to Statistics Austria there are currently 6,300 students in high school who speak both German and Turkish.

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Four things you should know before registering your child in a kindergarten in Vienna

Finding the right kindergarten in Vienna can be daunting, especially for parents new to the city or unfamiliar with the local education system.

From understanding the different types of kindergartens available to researching potential schools and navigating the application process, there are a lot of factors to consider. However, with some research and preparation, parents can find a high-quality kindergarten that meets the needs of both themselves and their children.

Here are the key things you need to know about kindergartens in Vienna.

READ ALSO: Four things foreigners in Austria need to know about the education system

Kindergartens are public or heavily subsidised

Children in Vienna can attend any of the Austrian capital’s numerous municipal or private kindergartens. You can find the location of all of them HERE.

However, a good tip is to search using the Kigafinder.at website, which uses Google Maps to pinpoint locations and has links to the websites of private institutions. Parents also ask for kindergarten recommendations from other friends and family – or simply walk around their neighbourhood looking for nearby schools.

Childcare is free or subsidised for parents of children who live in Vienna. The City of Vienna provides places for about one-third of the kindergarten, while most of the spots are in private schools paid for by the City.

READ ALSO: Which Austrian states offer free public kindergartens?

The registration period is in November and December

The kindergarten year begins in September, and the main registration period for a municipal kindergarten is in November and December of the year before.

If you enrol your child during the peak enrolment period, you have the best chance of receiving a spot at one of your preferred locations at the start of the upcoming kindergarten year, according to the official website.

You can register online HERE.

The process is relatively similar when registering for a subsidised kindergarten place in a private Viennese kindergarten. You also apply for a “Kundennummer“ with the Stadt Wien and then use it to register your child directly with the private educational institution.

Usually, parents set up a list of kindergartens that they believe are a good fit and reach out to their office to schedule an appointment for a meet-up.

However, if you need a spot urgently or move to Vienna after the registration period, you can also contact the responsible department, the MA 10, via telephone (+43 1 277 55 55) or in the service centres. Or check with a private institution directly.

READ ALSO: ‘Better and cheaper’: What foreigners really think about childcare in Austria

How are spots allocated?

The allocation of municipal kindergarten places takes place on a priority basis according to the following criteria:

Parents are working or in education (proof required)
A sibling attends the same kindergarten location at the same time
The child lives near the kindergarten
Older children are ranked before younger children

According to the government, there is also a special consideration for children in the last year of kindergarten and other social aspects such as a crisis or special life circumstances.

(Photo by Vitolda Klein / Unsplash)

Spots in private institutions don’t usually follow these priority criteria, but they might. Parents often mention that getting places for children younger than four years old can be more complicated. This happens because these groups are usually smaller and because, in a municipal kindergarten, older children are given priority.

Usually, for online registration, parents need to provide the date of birth of the child, meaning they can’t apply for a spot before the child is born. However, if there are special circumstances, parents can apply directly with the MA 10 and try to ensure a spot earlier.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: What you need to know about parental leave in Austria

How much does it cost?

Kindergarten is free of charge in Vienna for all children up to compulsory school age if the child and at least one person with custody (parent or person entrusted with custody) have their primary residence in Vienna.

In municipal kindergartens, meals cost €72.33 per month. However, you can apply for an exemption from the meal contribution at the Child and Youth Welfare Office.

If you do not have your main residence in Vienna, you can still register your child in the city, with costs varying depending on the attendance model. For half-day attendance, the price is €168.50, while for all-day care, it would cost €284.69 plus a meal contribution of €72.33 per month.

When it comes to a private kindergarten, the costs also depend on the attendance model but are heavily subsidised by the City of Vienna following this model:

For children under 3.5 years: subsidy of €635.44 per month
For children from 3.5 years until compulsory schooling: full-day care €427.97, part-time care €354 and half-day care €255.10

The subsidy is paid directly to the private education institution and, in most cases, covers the entire cost of fees. However, parents are usually still expected to pay for the costs of meals and any additional services, depending on the institution. This often adds up to around €100 a month.

Did we miss something or do you have any further questions about registering a child in a kindergarten in Vienna? You can leave us a comment below or email us at [email protected].

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