More 'Life Skills' and less Latin: What awaits Austrian high school seniors

Austria's Ministry of Education has initiated a review of new curricula for the upper level of general education high schools (AHS-Oberstufe), with the changes slated to be implemented starting in 2027. The revisions follow extensive discussions, particularly concerning proposed cuts to Latin instruction.

A significant addition to the curriculum is the introduction of "Media and Democracy" as a mandatory subject, allocated two hours per week. Computer science will also receive an increased focus, gaining an additional hour. These additions come at the cost of reducing instruction time for Latin or a second living foreign language by two hours, and one hour from elective subjects.

While the ministry has outlined these changes, schools will retain some autonomy in implementing alternative solutions within their educational frameworks. The ministry's move to send the new curricula for review marks a concrete step towards modernizing the upper secondary education system, balancing traditional subjects with contemporary needs like digital literacy and civic engagement.