New AHS Curricula: Computer Science Expanded, Latin and Electives Shrinking

There are also cuts in the area of elective subjects: "eine Stunde für ein Wahlpflichtfach weg", according to the draft. This shrinks the already tight window of time that schools can use for specializations, supplementary offerings, and preparation courses.

Redistribution with the Same Total Number of Hours

According to the ministry, the total number of hours remains the same. What is added in hours for computer science and media and democracy is therefore funded through cuts elsewhere. Teacher representatives and school leaders must therefore rebalance the weekly schedules without having any more overall instructional time available.

A new standalone subject "Media and Democracy" is planned with two weekly periods. Through this, the ministry aims to specifically prepare students for dealing with digital media, disinformation, and the formation of political opinion. The link with education for democratic citizenship goes beyond mere media literacy.

The planned redistribution is not uncontested. Representatives of the Neos had most recently called for a modernization of the weekly schedules. ÖVP education spokespersons emphasized, by contrast, that the total number of hours must remain stable. What is clear is that the review will now take the usual route through school partners, unions, and subject-matter experts before the curriculum can finally enter into force.

New Subject Media and Democracy

How the Theresianum in Vienna, the Wirtschaftskundliches Realgymnasium, and other AHS locations will concretely implement the new weekly schedules remains open. According to the documents, "nur ca. zehn Prozent der Schulen auch tatsächlich die vom Ministerium vorgegebenen Stundentafeln" use the schedules prescribed by the ministry. Many schools deviate with their own profiles, which makes comparability more difficult.

The lower-grade curricula are also to be revised in a separate process. It therefore remains to be seen how the AHS upper secondary curriculum, the "Kanon der Wahlpflichtgegenstände", and future lower-grade regulations relate to one another overall. AI competencies, media education, and classical languages stand in a field of tension that can only be balanced through the ongoing review process.

Reactions from School Practice and Politics

Education expert Sigrid Fries raises the question in an interview with STANDARD of whether the ministry is overshooting the mark by renaming the subject "Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence." "Es geht nicht darum, ein Buzzword auf das Schild zu kleben, sondern Inhalte strukturiert zu vermitteln", said Fries. From her perspective, existing teaching staff must above all be trained accordingly so that the additional weekly period can actually have a qualitative effect.

School principal Alexander Pröll of the Theresianum points out in conversation with the newspaper that the prescribed weekly schedules in practice often only marked the lower limit. "Die Schulen gestalten ohnehin vieles eigenständig, aber jeder Wegfall einer Stunde erzeugt Druck, weil sie meist in einem Wahlpflichtfach oder im Förderunterricht wegfällt", according to Pröll. The future computer science period must therefore remain compatible with the school's existing IT focus areas.

The review period is expected to run until early September 2026. Afterwards, the submissions received will be evaluated and the curriculum will be promulgated through the responsible ordinance of the Ministry of Education. Entry into force for the 2027/28 school year is to be expected, provided no major changes to the draft are still necessary.