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Austria rolls out new Covid quarantine rules for schools

As students and teachers across Austria settle into the new school year, the quarantine measure for children have been adjusted.

Published: 14 September 2021 12:16 CEST
Austria rolls out new Covid quarantine rules for schools
Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP

The Covid-19 quarantine rule for school children has been reduced from ten days to five.

Martin Netzer, General Secretary in the Ministry of Education, announced that only those sitting next to a child with a positive test result have to be quarantined with the option to “test yourself free” after five days through a PCR test.

Education Minister Heinz Faßmann had recently campaigned for a shortening of the quarantine period in schools.

The change in the nationwide rules is to ensure a more stable school environment for children to reduce the impact of Covid-19 measures on education.

On Monday, school resumed in Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Carinthia and Styria with an initial three-week safety phase. 

During the safety phase, three tests per week are compulsory, one of which must be a PCR test. Politicians are working on nationwide corona measures for classes.

READ ALSO: A full overview of the new Covid-19 measures for schools can be found here

Already 285 classes in Vienna under quarantine

Last week in Vienna schools returned after the summer break and the Kronen Zeitung reports there are already 285 classes in the city under quarantine measures.

This is despite Education City Councillor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) mandating two compulsory PCR tests each week for staff and students in the capital, in comparison to the once-a-week PCR test rule for the rest of the country.

READ MORE: ‘Ninja tests’: What are Austria’s coronavirus sticker book tests for children?

Problems were also reported with the “everything gurgles” Covid-19 testing system after the server for registering the test results was not available on Monday morning (13th September).

‘Discomfort and insecurity’ in Vienna

The Kurier reports that at the start of the school year last week, 32 student representatives from grammar schools in Vienna wrote an open letter to describe the situation in schools.

The letter said there was “discomfort and insecurity” in schools and they expected closures as a result of the current measures.

The group wrote: “Our concerns are skilfully ignored, constant pressure to perform is maintained. The solidarity that we showed towards the elderly at the beginning of the pandemic is now not shown to us.”

The group cited Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and called for compulsory vaccination of kindergarten and elementary school staff to protect students, the purchase of air filters for schools and the return of the FFP2 mask requirement in school buildings.

EXPLAINED: What are Austria’s tighter Covid measures ‘for the unvaccinated’?

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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

What kind of kindergartens can you choose from in Vienna?

Vienna is known for affordable and high-quality childcare. Parents can choose between four different models of kindergartens. Here's what you need to know about them.

Published: 10 April 2024 11:08 CEST
Updated: 10 April 2024 13:10 CEST
What kind of kindergartens can you choose from in Vienna?

(All prices are 2024 values)

If your child is turning three soon and you live in Vienna, it might be time to think about which kindergarten to attend. While living in the capital, you have a wide range of kindergartens to choose from, which can be overwhelming, especially if you are new to the country.

In Vienna, children have the option to attend different types of kindergartens, such as a public one or a private (but heavily subsidised) kindergarten. When deciding which is right for your child, it’s a good idea to ask family and friends for recommendations, to read about the different options online and also to try out a day in a kindergarten together with your child. 

If you want to know your options and what is close to where you live, you can take a look at this map, which points out the different kindergartens and their locations.

As a parent, you can register your child for kindergarten at any time, regardless of the school year. However, registering during the main registration period in November and December can increase the chances of securing a spot in your preferred childcare centre.

A playroom for children. Photo by Gautam Arora on Unsplash

READ ALSO: Which Austrian states offer free public kindergartens?

Different types of kindergartens

The main types of kindergartens in Vienna are public, private, or parent-run kindergartens. In addition, there are also so-called Betriebskindergärten, run by companies mainly for their employees’ children.

Public kindergartens

Public kindergartens in Vienna are funded and regulated by the city government. They are often operated by municipal departments or educational authorities and follow certain standards and guidelines set by the government to create safety, well-being, and educational quality. 

In Vienna, children can attend public kindergartens for free; the only expenses parents need to cover are €79.95 per month for food, along with some other extra smaller costs for materials and activities.

Each group in a public kindergarten holds a maximum of 25 children, with responsibilities shared by a team of mostly three staff members, including two main teachers and one assistant.

Most public kindergartens are open from 7am to 6pm, making them a good option if you are a full-time working parent.

You can register your child for a public kindergarten online.

Private kindergartens

Although private kindergartens are a more expensive than public, they are still quite affordable. In general, private kindergartens cost around €250 per month, since some of the costs are subsidised by the government.

Private kindergartens tend to offer children a bit more attention than the public ones. There is often one teacher for as few as seven children. They also offer more specific educational programs, such as fully English-spoken education, Montessori pedagogics, bilingual alternatives, or religious approaches.

The City of Vienna subsidises places at private kindergartens with up to the following amounts which are directly paid to the private institution:

  • For children under 3.5 years: €762.57
  • For children from 3.5 years to compulsory school age:
    • Full-day care: €520.20
    • Part-time care: €428.21
    • Half-day care: €309.99 

When applying for a private kindergarten, you need to apply for a “Kundennummer” (customer number) through Stadt Wien and then use it to register your child directly at the chosen educational institution.

Children playing together inside. Photo by BBC Creative on Unsplash

Parent-run kindergarten

A parent-run kindergarten typically has mid-size groups of children. It involves having two to three staff members for around 15 children at a time. Usually, the staff members are the children’s parents, with the idea of creating a more familiar atmosphere where parents have a greater say in their child’s education.

A parent-run kindergarten is usually run by an association board where the parents function and take care of finances, organisation, cleaning, cooking, and possible renovations. All parents in the association are required to contribute both financially and with their working hours.

In Vienna, parent-run kindergartens usually comes with lower costs for parents than private kindergartens. Parent-run kindergartens normally receive subsidies and funding from the local government to help cover operating costs such as staff salaries, utilities, and materials. The level of support normally depends on factors such as the number of children enrolled and the qualifications of staff members. 

Here you can take a look at some different options if you are interested in participating in a parent-run kindergarten. 

Betriebskindergärten

This type of kindergarten, provided by companies for their employees as a benefit, is often offered free of charge, with space sometimes available also for children of non-employees.

Betriebskindergärten are typically created by large companies such as Austria’s national railway company, ÖBB, to make life easier for employees and to be seen as attractive employers on the market. They are usually financed mainly by the companies themselves but can also receive support from the government.

Depending on the specific Betriebskindergarten, the group size and number of teachers can vary.

Here is a list with Vienna’s kindergartens run by different companies. 

READ MORE: How can foreign nationals bring their family members to Austria?

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