Abstract
This paper discusses the educational reform practiced in the Austrian capital city, Vienna. Since OECD carried out the PISA test in 2000, many countries have attempted to improve children’s achievement. Austrian educational reform policy consists of an introduction of the educational standard, and the establishment of new middle schools (Neue Mittelschule). This paper focuses on the latter. The establishment of new middle schools aims to integrate the educational system in the future. But Vienna city (equal rank to the state government) is originally reforming the first secondary educational grade. Vienna established not only new middle schools, but also Vienna middle schools (Wiener Mittelschule). As a result, a first secondary educational grade in Vienna became three tracking.
In January 2008, Claudia Schmied was inaugurated as Austrian education minister. Because she belongs to the Austrian social democratic party (SPö), she had a position to advance educational equal opportunity. The method to integrate an Austrian tracking system was the establishment of new middle schools. Schmied described two reasons.
1. The course decision in nine and a half years is very early. Pupils cannot exercise capabilities.
2. In order to change the Austrian structure of the first secondary educational grade, the improvement of qualities is a necessary condition. The target of new middle schools is modern schools having new learning cultures.
The basic establishment form of new middle schools is a transition from secondary schools (Hauptschule). But Schmied mentions “Till 2015/16, all secondary schools will develop to new middle schools. In addition, I require that all AHS (Allgemeine Höhere
Schule) take part in this project.” That is to say, her opinion was not only upgrading from secondary schools, but also integrating to AHS junior grades.
However Vienna middle schools have three principles. First is “Test Results are Important”, second is “The Guarantee of Various Chances”, third is “Learning and Freedom”.
This paper describes Austrian educational reform, focusing on new middle schools. On one hand, new middle schools consist of transitions from secondary schools in federal units. On the other hand, Vienna had an advanced reaction. That is the establishment of Vienna middle schools. Almost schools change from secondary schools, however curriculums are according to AHS. This movement is the equality or the integration to AHS. If Vienna middle schools succeed, the federal educational system reform will be influenced.
