EDUCATION IN AUSTRIA

Austria has a free and public school system,and nine years of education are mandatory.Schools offer a series of vocational technical and university preparatory tracks involving one to three additional years of education beyond the minimum mandatory level.The legal basis for primary and secondary education in Austria is the school Law of 1962.The federal Ministry for education is responsible for funding and supervising primary and secondary education,which is administered on the provincial level by the authorities of the respective provinces.

The countrys university system is also free.The General Law for university education of 1966 and the University Organization Law of 1975 provide the legal framework for tertiary education, and the federal Ministry for science and Research funds and oversees education at the university level.

Federal legislation played a prominent role in the education system,and laws dealing with education effectively have a constitutional status because they can be passed or amended bonely by a two thirds majority in parliament.For this reason,agreement between the OVP and the SPO is needed to pass or amend legislation relating to education.

Private schools that provide primary and secondary education and some teacher training are run mainly by the Roman Catholic Church and account for approximately 10 percent of the 7000 schools and 120000 teachers.

Roman Catholic schools have a reputation for more discipline and rigor than public institutions and some are considered elite institutions.Because there is no tradition of private university education in Austria,the state has a virtual monopoly on higher education

Useful Links:

         1.www.austria.org

         2.www.english-schools.org

         3.www.educations.com