Austria's schools embrace AI and media education in bold curriculum reform
Austria's education system is set for a major overhaul starting in autumn 2023. Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (Neos) unveiled plans to reform school curricula, placing new emphasis on artificial intelligence and media education. The changes will also adjust teaching hours for traditional subjects like Latin and modern languages.
Under the reform, Latin instruction in Gymnasien will drop from twelve hours to eight. While the minister stressed that Latin remains important, he noted that newer subjects must now take priority. Schools will still have the option to keep extra Latin hours—but only if they reduce time spent on other areas.
The reform introduces two new dedicated subjects: Media and Democracy and AI education. Wiederkehr proposed that these should be taught by specially trained educators rather than squeezed into existing lessons. The shift reflects a broader push to prepare students for a digital future.
To support teachers, the government is expanding professional development programs. Initiatives like the EU-funded AI2PI Teacher Academy, online courses such as KI-Skilling.NRW, and workshops by institutions like Humboldt-Universität Berlin and BIBB in Bonn are already training educators in AI. These programs, running from 2022 to 2026, offer free sessions, micro-credentials, and expert-led workshops.
English teaching hours will stay unchanged, but modern foreign languages (excluding Latin) will lose two hours in Gymnasien. The minister acknowledged that reducing Latin hours could impact university entry requirements for law and medicine. Discussions are underway to adjust these requirements to eight hours instead of twelve.
The full rollout of the reform is planned for the winter semester of 2027. Wiederkehr emphasised that the focus is on establishing strong foundations rather than reacting to short-term trends.
The changes will reshape Austria's school curriculum, cutting hours for some traditional subjects while introducing new ones. Schools will have some flexibility to adapt, but the shift toward AI and media education marks a clear priority for the future. The reform's success will depend on ongoing teacher training and adjustments to university entry rules.
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