Professional supervision renewed

Less bureaucracy in kindergartens at last

In future, the pedagogical area should be the focus of inspections

(Bild: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - stock.adobe.com)

The last big chunk in the package of measures for Styrian kindergartens and crèches is now being implemented. The technical supervision, which is based at the state level, will be restructured from the fall. This should result in less bureaucracy.

The provincial government passed the corresponding ordinance on professional supervision on Thursday. "This will create legal certainty. Up to now, the irregular inspections have often focused more on the technical area than the pedagogical one," said ÖVP State Councillor for Education Werner Amon to the "Krone" newspaper.

This will now change. There will be a separation between legal and pedagogical supervision, in which standardized questionnaires will be used, for example. According to Amon, Styria is a pioneer with these clear guidelines. He also emphasizes that the facilities should no longer suffer from excessive bureaucracy. 

Styrian State Councillor for Education Werner Amon (ÖVP)

(Bild: steiermark.at/binder)

"The mood has changed completely"
Since Amon took office two years ago, many measures have been implemented in the area of elementary education, such as higher salaries and smaller groups in kindergartens. Another milestone is a new children's portal, which will be used for all registrations in Styria from 2025/26. Trial operation is currently underway.

"The mood has changed completely," says Amon. The politician is optimistic about the fall. The municipalities have enough applicants for tenders. Of the graduates of the Bafeps (Federal Institutes for Elementary Education), 70 percent now go into the profession - until recently, the opposite was the case.