Education of Ethnic Minorities and Migrants in Austria

Abstract

In the 19th century, the multiethnic state of the Austrian Empire and its successor, the Austrian-Hungarian dual monarchy, led to interrelations between different national and cultural groups. For centuries, several ethnic minority groups have lived in border regions in eastern and southern Austria, as well as in the capital city, Vienna. However, present-day Austrian society’s ethnic and linguistic diversity is due mostly to immigration of foreign workers in the second half of the 20th century. From a total population of more than 8 million, 1 out of 8 people living in Austria today are foreign born (Munz et al., 2003). In recent years, students with an immigrant background (firstand second-generation immigrants) have posed a big challenge to the Austrian school system. In this predominantly German-speaking and Roman Catholic country, cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity in classrooms has become a reality in many schools, particularly in urban areas. Different educational policies, measures, and practices have been implemented to help educate the diverse student population. Still, compared to the majority population, students with an immigrant background tend to underachieve in education, a trend that also has been reflected in previous PISA study results (OECD, 2004). This chapter will discuss current developments in the education of migrants and national ethnic minorities as well as intercultural learning in the Austrian educational system. Results will be situated within the wider context of the European Union, which Austria joined in 1995.