Austrian schools in the COVID-19 pandemic era

Abstract

Like many other school systems around the world, Austrian schools were crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic for an extended period of time. In 2020 and 2021, students in Austria spent between 40% and 60% of their school days in (partial) distance education. After explaining the main features of the Austrian school system, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of Austrian pandemic management in the school sector in 2020, 2021 and early 2022. In a further step, the most important empirical research findings on key effects of school closures and COVID-19-related changes on the learning and well-being of children and young people are compiled and summarized. Furthermore, the paper examines how teachers and parents in Austria have coped with this new situation. Finally, the main features of Austrian pandemic management in schools and a number of implications for future school practice and research are discussed.