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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Teaching and learning in general upper secondary education

Austria

6.Secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education

6.5Teaching and learning in general upper secondary education

Last update: 9 June 2022
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Curriculum, subjects number of hours

Pre-vocational School

The curriculum of pre-vocational school is subdivided into school subjects which are aimed at both general education and at action orientation and practice orientation.

The curriculum of the Polytechnic School is learning outcome and competence oriented. There are three subject clusters

  • Technology cluster:  Construction, electrical, wood and metal
  • Service Cluster: Commerce and office; health, beauty and social affairs and tourism
  • Training for the upper secondary level

The obligatory weekly number of lessons is 32 for all pupils consisting of general education subjects and alternative compulsory subjects in the specialist area. The curriculum of a pre-vocational school is as follows:

 A. GENERAL COMPULSORY SUBJECTS

hours per week

 Religious instruction

2

 World of work and life

3

 Citizenship education, economics and ecology

2

 German and communicating

3

 Modern foreign language English

3

 Applied mathematics

3

 Physical education

2

 Subtotal:

18

 

 B1. ALTERNATIVE COMPULSORY SUBJECTS

CLUSTER "TECHNology" (hours per week)

 Subject areas:

Construction

Electronic engineering

Wood

Metal

 Applied informatics

1

1

1

1

 Scientific basics and exercises

2

2

2

2

 Technical drawing

2

2

2

2

 Vocational studies

2

2

2

2

 Vocational practice

7

7

7

7

 Subtotal:

14

14

14

14

 Total hours per week (A, B1)

32

32

32

32

 

 B2. ALTERNATIVE COMPULSORY SUBJECTS

CLUSTER "SERVICE" (hours per week)

 Subject areas:

Wholesale and retail trade/office

Health, beauty and social affairs

Tourism

 Applied informatics

3

2

2

 Business management basics

2

1

1

 Bookkeeping and economic accounting

3

2

2

 Vocational studies

1

4

3

 Vocational practice

5

5

5

 Job-related foreign language conversation

-

-

1

 Subtotal:

14

14

14

 Total hours per week (A, B2)

32

32

32

 

 C. OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

hours per week

 German

2

 Modern foreign language (English)

2

 Mathematics

2

 Mother tongue instruction

3

 D. ELECTIVE EXERCISES

 

 Self dependent learning

1

 Road safety education

1

 Mother tongue instruction

3

 E. REMEDIAL TEACHING

 

 

In the following you will find the curriculum of the three school types discussed under 6.4.1. (Gymnasium, Realgymnasium and Wirtschaftskundliches Realgymnasium, Oberstufenrealgymnasium) per week (please refer to the abbreviations (G = Gymnasium, RG = Realgymnasium, WG = Wirtschaftskundliches Gymnasium) for changes in lessons):

Compulsory subjects

5th grade

6th grade

7th grade

8th grade

Total

Religious instruction

2

2

2

2

8

German

3

3

3

3

12

Modern foreign language

3

3

3

3

12

Latin

G: 3

G: 3

G: 3

G: 3

G: 12

Greek / 2nd modern foreign language

3

3

3

3

12

History and social studies / citizenship education

1

2

2

2

7

Geography and economics

2

1

G+RG: 2

WG: 3

G+RG: 2

WG: 3

G+RG: 7

WG: 10

Mathematics

G+WG: 3

RG: 4

G+WG: 3

RG: 4

3

3

G+WG: 12

RG: 14

Geometric drawing

-

-

RG: 2

RG: 2

G+WG: 0

RG: 4

G+WG: 0

Biology and environmental studies

2

G: 2

RG+WG: 3

G+WG: 0

RG: 2

2

G: 6

WG: 7

RG: 9

Chemistry

-

-

G+WG: 2

RG: 3

G-WG: 2

RG: 3

G+WG: 4

RG: 6

Physics

G: 0

RG: 2

3

2

G+WG: 2

RG: 3

G+WG: 7

RG: 10

Household economics and nutrition

WG: 2

WG: 2

 

 

WG: 4

Psychology and philosophy

 

WG: 1

2

2

G+RG: 4

WG: 5

Computer science

2

 

 

 

2

Music

2

1

2

2

7

Art

2

1

2

2

7

Physical education

3

2

2

2

9

Total number of weekly lessons:

G: 31

RG: 31

WG: 30

G: 29

RG: 28

WG: 30

G: 31

RG: 31

WG: 29

G: 33

RG: 32

WG: 31

G: 124

RG: 122

WG: 120

 

Below you will find the Oberstufenrealgymnasium curriculum. Here there are two possibilities: the artistic or the sport branch:

Compulsory subjects for the artistic branch

5th grade

6th grade

7th grade

8th grade

Total

Religious instruction

2

2

2

2

8

German

4

3

3

3

13

Modern foreign language

3

3

3

3

12

Latin / 2nd modern foreign language

4

3

3

3

13

History and social studies / citizenship education

1

2

2

2

7

Geography and economics

2

1

2

2

7

Mathematics

4

3

3

3

13

Biology and environmental studies

2

2

-

2

6

Chemistry

-

-

2

2

4

Physics

-

2

2

2

6

Psychology and philosophy

-

-1

2

2

4

Music

    

24

Instrumental and vocal

 

 

 

 

Art

    

Handicraft

2

-

-

-

2

Computer science

2

-

-

-

2

Physical education

3

2

2

2

9

Elective subjects

2

2

1

1

6

Total number of weekly lessons:

35

30

32

33

136

 

Compulsory subjects for the sport branch

5th grade

6th grade

7th grade

8th grade

Total

Religious instruction

2

2

2

2

8

German

4

3

3

3

13

Modern foreign language

3

3

3

3

12

Latin / 2nd modern foreign language

4

3

3

3

13

History and social studies / citizenship education

1

1

2

2

6

Geography and economics

2

1

2

2

7

Mathematics

4

3

3

3

13

Biology and environmental studies

2

2

-

2

6

Chemistry

-

-

2

2

4

Physics

-

2

2

2

6

Psychology and philosophy

-

-1

2

2

4

Computer science

2

-

-

-

2

Music

2

2

-

-

4

Art

Physical education

7

7

7

5

26

Sport theory

1

1

2

2

6

Elective subjects

2

2

1

1

6

Total number of weekly lessons:

36

32

34

34

136

Teaching methods and materials

In pre-vocational schools and academic secondary schools the individual teacher is responsible for teaching the syllabi and contents laid down in the curriculum, according to the specified freedom of methods and appropriateness of methods, as set out in the School Organisation Act.

In both school types, the use of approved textbooks (free of cost with a co-payment), of audio-visual aids and information and communication technology, among a variety of other teaching aids, supports the respective methods.

In particular, the following methodological and didactic objectives should be considered in pre-vocational school, among other objectives: spontaneity and independence, individualisation and differentiation by pupil interests, promotion of social cooperation. For this purpose, the teaching methods of action forms, work forms, social forms and project forms are as suited as school events such as company visits, excursions, days of practical work experience, and project weeks.

Approved textbooks, audiovisual devices as well as devices of information and communication technology serve as teaching materials. Brochures, films and video tapes from non-school institutions (chambers, labour office, guilds, companies) are also used to ensure that teaching is true to life and with professional orientation. Weeks of practical work experience in companies and action-oriented, practice-oriented teaching serve as targeted preparation for the transition to working life (apprenticeship training).

For academic secondary school / upper cycle, in terms of teaching methods and materials, the same requirements apply as for the lower cycle of AHS (see chapter 6.2.2.).

One approach to prepare students for higher education entrance is the so-called pre-academic paper (vorwissenschaftliche Arbeit). It is compulsory for all students and constitutes the first pillar of the new matriculation examination in Austria. The student, in cooperation with a supervisor assigned to him/her in the 11th grade, must formulate a topic on which he/she will work. As part of the oral exams of the matriculation examination, students present their pre-academic paper.