Everything at a glance – Big package decided to ease the burden on teachers

In the future, school management in compulsory schools should receive important pedagogical and administrative support in everyday school life – similar to what has been the case in federal schools to date.

New Admin Features
Half an hour per week is provided per class for administrative support of the school management. Teachers who take on such tasks are to be compensated for this in the future as an additional service. There are currently no standard administrators at compulsory schools; according to the Ministry of Education, teachers have so far taken on these tasks without pay.

SPÖ voted with government parties
The SPÖ also agreed: “Our approach is to get more people excited about teaching and then keep them in school in the long term through good working conditions.” But the “changes we have fought for” can only be a first step, he said.

Overview of the amendment to the service law for schools:

• Administrative relief through administrative support for all compulsory education schools up to a size of 0.5 hours per class

• Expanding Integrative Vocational Training (IBA) opportunities and quality assurance measures in vocational schools

• Creating a lateral entry opportunity for special education
• Creating a lateral entry opportunity for music in primary school
• Mandatory crediting of previous periods of service with the PH from an immediately preceding employment relationship with the state
• Improvement of the calculation key for the allocation of resources in the smallest clusters (compulsory schools) and in federal school clusters
• Possibility of reimbursement for organizational efforts in German language lessons
• Protective arrangement for students in part-time master’s programmes
• Anchoring a safety declaration in employment law for all newcomers
• Exemption from the second introduction week for LA students with a study progress of more than 120 ECTS
• Creating a Side Entry Opportunity for Religion
• Enabling tasks of scientific and professional field-related research also for the institute management of the PH
• Leisure care also for contract teachers at integrated practical schools
• Abolition of the previous replacement rule for school management for more flexibility
• Equalization of service allowances for administrators and better integration of department heads in human vocational schools
• Automatic crediting of prior service periods when changing employment relationships from state to federal or state to state

Changes in service law were on the way
The issue of administrative relief had not been resolved until recently. Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) had repeatedly criticised the fact that nothing was being done in this regard in the department of Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), who is responsible for public services. The decision in the budget committee last Thursday was taken without the item “educational administrative specialist”. However, Kogler had already expressed optimism at that time that an agreement would still be reached.

“Noticeable lighting at the school location”
Polaschek expects the innovation negotiated with the teachers’ union to bring “noticeable relief to the school site,” he said in a statement. “This is something we fought for long and with determination.”

The common goal was for teachers to be able to concentrate more on teaching and their work with students, emphasized the top representative of teachers Paul Kimberger (FCG). “The efforts of the past months have paid off,” he said. Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) expected that this would ease the burden on teachers and thus provide the best possible support for students.