Vienna Plans to Increase Language Support Staff in Kindergartens

Currently, according to the office of City Councillor for Education Bettina Emmerling (NEOS), 402 employees are working in this area. New staff is to be hired at the beginning of 2026. The relevant individuals are currently undergoing their training, in two different institutions.

Two More Training Courses by MA 10

On the one hand, two more training courses for language support staff are being conducted by the Municipal Department 10 (Kindergartens) by the end of this year. Each of these courses is attended by 25 people, as the city council office informed the APA. In addition, elementary educators who will complete their college training in February 2026 are already taking the subject "early language education and support" in their basic training.

This means that the graduates of the elementary education training institutions (BAFEP) are also considered language support staff by law, it is emphasized. According to the town hall, 79 new educators have received a job offer from the city. Private kindergartens would also hire corresponding staff, it is said.

In the future, the number of language support staff will therefore continuously increase with the hiring of new educators. It is noted that the goal has not yet been reached, but a "big step" will be achieved at the beginning of the coming year. It is also pointed out that the number has already increased significantly. In 2020, there were still 250 language support staff employed in Vienna's kindergartens.

Recommendation Sent to Parents

Further measures are also being taken, as assured. It has already been arranged that recommendation letters are sent to parents with children in need of language support - provided they are completing the last, mandatory kindergarten year. Parents are asked to keep their children in kindergarten longer than legally required. Instead of the minimum of 20 hours, the stay should be 30 hours per week, parents are advised.

In the office of City Councillor Emmerling, it is also welcomed that the federal government is considering further obligations in the elementary sector. At the state level, there is no legal authority here, only recommendations can be made, it is emphasized.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.