Why did Maria Theresa introduce compulsory primary education in the Austrian lands?

Maria Theresa introduced compulsory primary education in the Austrian lands primarily to address two major concerns:

• Public Morality: She was concerned that the Roman Catholic Church in Austria was no longer effectively maintaining public morality among the population.12
• Economic and Social Needs: Changes in the 18th-century economy necessitated a better-educated work force. By the late 18th century, a large portion of the rural population consisted of cottars, gardeners, and lodgers who relied on nonagricultural work for survival. These individuals represented a proto-industrial labor force, but they were also viewed as an ignorant and potentially ill-disciplined group. Compulsory education was intended to instill a strong work ethic and a sense of morality in this population.12

In 1774, she issued the General School Regulation, which established a system of elementary, secondary, and normal schools to train teachers, despite facing significant challenges such as funding shortages and resistance from both peasants and the nobility.12