More Staff and Money: Government Invests Massively in German Language Support in Schools

German language support in schools is to be massively expanded through a personnel initiative. The corresponding government package of measures was approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday by circular resolution. The currently 577 positions dedicated to German language support are to be increased to a total of more than 1,324. In addition, prospective teachers will be required to undergo training in "German as a Foreign Language".

Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) stated in a press release that today's decision is a significant milestone in the catch-up race that the government has started in the education sector. In addition to the personnel initiative, further concrete steps are being taken to also expand the quality of German language support.

Mandatory Training for German as a Foreign Language

Thus, for the first time, the new curricula for teacher training will include a "mandatory offer" for German as a Foreign Language (DaF) or German as a Second Language (DaZ) comprising six ECTS credits. Furthermore, there is a legal obligation for the universities of teacher education to implement the focus "German as a Second Language and Language Education" within the primary school teacher training program.

They are not starting from scratch. Since 2022/23, according to the Ministry of Education, almost 17,000 teachers have participated in DaF/DaZ training. As of March, a total of around 400 career changers have been certified in German and another approximately 200 in German as a Second/Foreign Language. According to the Ministry of Education, this results in a pool of around 600 career changers who are specifically trained in the area of German language support.

62 Million Additional for German Language Support

The resources for German language support are being massively increased. In the future, an additional 62 million euros annually, totaling 108 million euros, will be invested in the successful acquisition of the German language. Based on the number of extraordinary students in the current school year, the currently 577 positions dedicated to German language support would be increased to a total of more than 1,324 positions. This results in an increase of 747 positions or 130 percent.

The distribution in the federal states is based on demand. In absolute numbers, the largest increase in positions for German language support is in Vienna with 290 (to 521). Upper Austria records the strongest percentage increase, where the increase of 159 positions (to 237) means an increase of 203 percent.

(APA/Red)

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