Austria

Abstract

This chapter discusses the structure of the secondary school system in Austria. As a consequence of the more clearly discernible talents and interests of students as well as the requirements of society for different forms of secondary completion or training qualifications, the Austrian secondary school system is much differentiated. All types of compulsory technical schools offer part-time instruction as well as training in industrial, trade, craft, commercial, agricultural occupations, or forestry generally under the dual-training principle, to all young persons who have completed compulsory general schooling, and are therefore at least 15 years old. There is a difference within individual types of school according to the organization of the curriculum, between standard forms and special forms. The regular certifying forms of completion of the various secondary school curricula are usually examinations, which are termed final examinations at some types of medium-level secondary technical schools, the maturity examinations at the top-level secondary general schools and top-level secondary technical schools, and finally, the aptitude examination at the normal schools.