Number of Students and Teachers in Austria Increased

A trend that was initiated in 2016/17 continues with the student numbers: Since then, the previously generally declining student numbers at primary schools have been increasing again. This increase is mainly attributed to the migration movements from 2015 onwards, according to the statisticians. In the 2023/24 school year, a total of about 369,000 children were enrolled in primary schools - this is an increase of more than 9,000 or 2.5 percent compared to 2022/23.

Number of Students Increased Due to Migration

In a ten-year comparison, there were even around 41,000 more children at primary schools in 2023/24 (plus 12.6 percent). This increase is entirely explained by the number of primary school students without Austrian citizenship, whose number has more than doubled in this period from around 41,000 to recently just under 84,000.

The total number of students increased by 1.2 percent compared to the previous year. The increase in teachers was even more noticeable at 1.8 percent in headcount, equivalent to the increase in students. Notably, despite complaints about a shortage of teachers, the number of educators has almost always grown in previous years - both in headcount and in full-time equivalents. However, the increase is sometimes smaller than the increase in student numbers. A pure numerical comparison does not necessarily say anything about a shortage of teachers. For example, new subjects such as digital basic education and ethics have been added recently, and additional staff is also needed for German support classes. In addition, teaching students and career changers with special contracts are used for teaching.

Middle Schools in Austria Are Growing Again

The increase in primary school students in recent years is also reflected in the current figures for middle school and AHS lower level. Since 2022/23, the previously declining number of middle school students (formerly: main school or new middle school) is also growing again. This is mainly due to children with non-Austrian citizenship, as with primary schools. Almost a quarter of students at middle schools are now foreigners, which is ten percentage points more than ten years ago (14 percent). The number of students at the AHS lower levels also reached a new high in 2023/24 with 125,009 - compared to the previous year, however, only four more heads were added. In a ten-year comparison, the increase is around 13,000 children or just under twelve percent.

Number of Students: Different Developments at Upper Levels

There are different developments in the upper level area: At the AHS upper levels, a slight increase of 0.5 percent in students was recorded in a ten-year comparison, but the number has slightly decreased compared to the previous year (minus 0.8 percent). The vocational middle schools (BMS) lost about eight percent of students in a ten-year comparison, but were able to increase slightly compared to the previous year (plus 1.4 percent). The picture is similar at the vocational schools. Most sectors of vocational higher schools (BHS) also recorded declines compared to 2013/14. Only the educational institutions for elementary pedagogy or social pedagogy were able to increase.

(APA/Red)

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