National Council decides: Orientation classes for all immigrant children!

National Council decides: Orientation classes for all immigrant children!

With a majority in the National Council, the introduction of orientation classes was decided today, which will come into force for immigrants from September 2025 for immigrants from September 2025. The decision was made with the votes of ÖVP, SPÖ, Neos and Greens, while the FPÖ rejected the measure and criticized it as ineffectively. Education Minister Christoph Return welcomed the new classes as a strengthening of the schools, which should benefit children in particular with no precursors.

The amendment to the law, which was passed as part of the measures for educational reform, also includes the introduction of digital students at educational universities as well as new training opportunities for elementary teacher: inside. An application by the Greens on the tertiary training for group leaders: However, no majority found inside.

orientation classes and their objectives

The orientation classes are designed especially for children with low or no previous experience in the education system, often due to escape biographies or family reunions. They offer a framework in which the students are taught in regular classes before entering. The focus is on the mediation of first knowledge of German and the relevant values that are essential for living together in a democratic society, such as respect, tolerance and responsibility. The Federal Government has already taken extensive measures to support this initiative, in particular in view of the increasing number of children with a migration background at elementary schools [Ministry of Education] that the new classes are based on positive experiences in Vienna and Vorarlberg.

The Neos-Education spokeswoman Martina von Künsberg Sarre praised the introduction of the orientation classes and emphasized that they should make it easier for the children to get started with everyday school life. In the future, after an orientation talk with the parents in the classes, children should be supported individually, be it through German funding or additional accompaniment to improve their integration into the education system.

criticism and challenges

The FPÖ critically commented on the new offers and described the orientation classes as a "placebo measure". Instead, she called for a comprehensive 9-point measures catalog for a non-violent school and brought in several requests for resolution, which, however, did not find a majority. In addition, the FPÖ emphasized the need to create child -friendly school conditions and implement measures to prevent violence.

On the other hand, the ÖVP emphasized the importance of preparing the children for regular school, whereby the mediation of the Austrian way of life was determined as the basic goal. The SPÖ clearly spoke out for the integration of people into society and referred to the successful trials of the orientation classes in Vienna and Vorarlberg.

In addition, elementary pedagogy will be further developed, with a bachelor's degree in elementary education at FH Campus Vienna from autumn 2025. These reforms are part of the efforts to create an education system that takes equal opportunities for all children seriously [NEOS] reports that the measures are crucial to offer all children the same educational opportunities.

It remains unclear how many places in the new orientation classes are needed, which is an essential challenge when implementing. Education Minister Christoph Return sees the introduction as a paradigm shift in elementary pedagogy and would like to make sure that all children receive the best possible support.

All measures mentioned are part of a comprehensive educational reform that aims to promote integration and equal opportunities in the Austrian education system. Minister of Education Christoph Return and other representatives of the government agree that the realignment in education contributes to enabling all children a fair opportunity in the education system regardless of their origin.