Austria will pilot a six-year primary school model starting in the 2027/28 academic year, with more than 40 schools expressing interest in participating, the Education Ministry announced on Tuesday.
The current system requires children to choose between secondary academic or vocational tracks at age 10, a decision critics argue comes too early. The proposed model would delay this division until age 12, giving students two additional years to develop in a familiar environment. Both primary schools and lower secondary institutions, including academic and middle schools, have signaled interest in the trial.
Final approval for participation requires a two-thirds majority vote from both parents and teachers in each school’s partnership body. The ministry plans to select five primary schools with suitable partner institutions across three federal states for the initial phase. Schools have until Oct. 16 to declare interest, with information sessions planned to address questions before the selection process.
The ministry’s statement confirmed that schools will begin informing communities about the project in the coming weeks. The pilot aims to test whether extending primary education improves student outcomes by allowing more time for skill development before tracking begins. Currently, Austrian primary school lasts four years, with early tracking a point of debate in international comparisons.
No timeline was provided for expanding the pilot beyond the initial schools, and officials did not specify which three federal states would host the first participants. The ministry’s announcement did not include details on funding or curriculum adjustments for the extended model.
