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Factsheet for measure AT-2022-12/2441 Updated – measures in Austria

Education measures for Ukrainian refugees

Bildungsmaßnahmen für ukrainische Geflüchtete

Country Austria , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 14 March 2022 – 04 March 2024
Context War in Ukraine
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Measures to prevent social hardship
– Access to childcare and education
Author Bernadette Allinger (Forba) and Eurofound
Measure added 02 June 2022 (updated 01 March 2023)

Background information

Over 64,000 Ukrainians fleeing from the war in their country have been registered in Austria by early May. With the activation of Council Directive 2001/55/EC, Ukrainian refugees are granted immediate and collective protection, thus alleviating pressure on national asylum systems. The displaced persons are to enjoy harmonised rights across the EU, including residence, access to the labour market and housing, medical assistance, and access to education for children. The national legislation on the temporary right of residence came into force on 11 March 2022.

Content of measure

In principle, the legal requirements for refugees have not been amended. All children of school age who are "permanently" (i.e. until further notice) residing in Austria are obliged to attend school and fulfil their compulsory schooling at any public or private school. Pupils who are no longer of compulsory school age and young people who do not speak sufficient German to be able to follow the lessons can attend school as extraordinary pupils within the framework of the respective legal provisions (e.g. admission requirements), provided that the school still has the corresponding capacities. There is no legal entitlement to this, but the lawmaker has recommended to provide school places to all interested students. If eight or more pupils are accepted as extraordinary pupils at the school location, it is obligatory to establish a separate (language support) class; otherwise, it is provided on an integrative basis. Also here, the lawmaker has recommended to the individual school locations to open up specific classes for Ukrainian refugees.

Teachers from the Ukraine may be employed via a special contract based on their qualifications, as stipulated in the pre-existing service laws. The prerequisite for such teachers to have at least basic German language skills has - extraordinarily - been suspended for the remainder of the school year 2021/22.

In addition, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has recommended to create opportunities for Ukrainian students to receive school lessons during non-school hours in accordance with the requirements of the Ukrainian school system (because in Austria, the focus lies on the German language acquisition only). Forms of support could include the voluntary use of unused classrooms outside of school hours, the use of existing infrastructure (e.g. internet), the provision of digital devices on loan or support with additional learning and teaching materials.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

02 February 2023

The duration was extended by one year, i.e. 4 March 2024.

Use of measure

Around 6,500 school pupils have been integrated in Austrian school classes since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Does not apply to businesses Children (minors)
Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement as case not in social partner domain No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

Not available.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Education measures for Ukrainian refugees, measure AT-2022-12/2441 (measures in Austria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/AT-2022-12_2441.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.