Part-time Vocational Schools (BS)
Apprentices training in Austria is a " dual system ”, which means that vocational training during apprenticeship is done both at the place of work and at part-time vocational schools.
Apprenticeship is a working relationship with special training character and is determined by the articles of apprenticeship. The articles of apprenticeship are defined by the legal act governing vocational training and labour law regulations. The articles are concluded by the person authorized to train and the apprentice, with apprentices under age consent of the statutory representative is required. The apprentice is obliged, amongst others, to attend part-time vocational school. The person authorized to train is obliged, amongst others, to give the apprentice the necessary time off to attend school while continuing to pay apprentice remuneration, and to make sure the apprentice attends school regularly.
Part-time vocational schools may provide training for one or more professions. The following organisation types apply:
- Full-year vocational schools with a minimum of one full or two half days per week;
- Vocational schools operated in sets of courses with one minimum eight-week course per school level;
- Other types, such as block instruction during 1.5 school days or 2 school days, 8 hours each.
Full-year vocational schools generally offer instruction on one to two days per week. Courses for some professions are held with the attendance of apprentices from other provinces. For many professions other training forms, such as block instruction, have been negotiated by the interest representations and decreed by the Vienna School Board.
Instruction at part-time vocational schools takes into account general didactic principles with special emphasis on practical aspects of life and the actual profession, apprentices' independence, descriptiveness, cross-subject problem solutions, as well as real-life examples.
As of 1992/93 one modern foreign language (English in most cases) is taught as a compulsory subject at all part-time vocational schools.
Curricula for individual professions are updated regularly. Currently "German and communications” is introduced as a compulsory subject to all curricula. "German and communications” has been taught at all part-time vocational schools since September 1999. Optional subjects include preparatory courses for the final examinations and courses on applied informatics.
Tasks of the part-time vocational school
- To provide fundamental theoretical knowledge through accompanying instruction relevant to the vocation
- To enhance and complement training at the place of work
- To promote general education
- To support students' special interests by differentiating in class and offering optional subjects in preparation of final examinations.
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