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How Austria plans to boost English bilingual teaching in schools

Austria has announced it is aiming to boost the number of lessons that are taught in English in its schools.

Published: 18 March 2024 11:51 CET

How Austria plans to boost English bilingual teaching in schools

Austria wants to boost bilingual lessons in schools. Photo by CDC on Unsplash

The idea to increase the number of lessons taught in English in Austrian schools was established by law in 2022.

Austria’s Education Minister Martin Polaschek has now submitted a draft law, which includes additional details to the plans, Der Standard reported.

It also includes information on how the existing English language instruction programs, currently taking place in a few schools, should be implemented across the regular school system.

Starting from the school year 2024/25 primary schools will also offer more bilingual education.

REVEALED: Just how well do Austrian’s speak English?

Additionally, secondary schools and general secondary education schools will also be able to offer more bilingual classes.

Ensuring proficiency in both English and German

The aim is to ensure that students are educated in both German and English to a level that enables them to achieve proficiency similar to that of a native speaker in their initially weaker language.

The objective is to establish at least one secondary school in each one of Austria’s 31 educational regions where English serves as the primary language of instruction in certain classes.

In a recent global ranking Austria was placed third for English proficiency, although the level of English ability varied across the country.

Which regions of Austria speak the best English?

Despite its high population of foreigners, the best English speakers in Austria are not – in fact – found in Vienna. That said, the Viennese are no slouch, scoring an impressive 640 as a region – enough to put them well into the C1 category of English proficiency.

Indeed when it comes to cities around the world Vienna was ranked in 2nd for English proficiency, only behind Amsterdam.

However, the best English speakers in Austria are found in Styria – and particularly in Graz, which scores an impressive 668 points.

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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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