The recently published National Education Report shows that teacher shortages and teacher recruitment remain a major challenge.
Over the past ten years, the number of six to fourteen year olds has increased by five percent, and over the next ten years this is expected to rise by a further two percent – with a simultaneous wave of teacher retirements. Specifically, a fifth of primary school teachers and over a quarter of secondary school teachers are currently 55 years or older, meaning that these people will retire within the next ten years.
Slow ‘generational change’ among teachers
However, the share of this group is decreasing slightly and at the same time a third of the teachers at these types of schools are younger than 35 years old. According to Michael Bruneforth of the Federal Institute for Quality Assurance in the Austrian School System (IQS), there are already signs of a “generational change”.
The data in the report, which is published every three years and is 580 pages long, also further highlights the changing composition of the student population due to migration, with the parents of immigrant students often having relatively low levels of education and low family income. At the same time, one in three primary school children now has at least one parent with a university degree. “We have the best educated parents ever, which could also have a positive impact on the school,” Bruneforth said.
Austria “not that bad” in comparative studies
This time, part of the national education report is also a list of how Austrian students have performed in the various international education comparison studies of recent years – from reading and math to digital and financial literacy. Austria is therefore almost always slightly above the EU average, and section head Doris Wagner took this opportunity to speak out against the ‘whining’. “Mathematics in particular, the most terrifying subject, doesn’t look so bad when you look at the results.”
There is still a need for action when it comes to reading skills, and further efforts are also needed to promote talent and talent and reduce school failure and dropout.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
