Austria’s summer school opens with record 58,500 participants

Summer school began in eastern Austria on Monday with a record 58,500 participants, including 16,000 in Vienna, ORF reported. Participation is compulsory for some students affected by language deficits.

Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr visited a primary school in Vienna’s Ottakring district to mark the start. He described the programme as a success story, pointing to the record turnout. For the first time, students classified as having extraordinary status because of language deficiencies during the previous summer term, as well as students who attended German support classes, are required to take part.

Finding enough teaching staff was a challenge, Wiederkehr said, but it was met. More than 7,000 teachers, including students, will work in the programme over the next three weeks.

Programme aims to ease return to school

The summer school is primarily intended to reduce learning gaps and help students readjust to everyday life at school. Adolf Solly, director of the primary school in Julius-Meinl-Gasse visited by Wiederkehr on Monday morning, said participants were significantly ahead of their classmates when the school year began.

Vienna’s education director Elisabeth Fuchs also said returning to school after the long summer holiday was always difficult for students. She described the programme as a good way to prepare for the school routine. With about 16,000 students taking part, Vienna faces particular logistical demands.

The summer school was introduced during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic to prevent educational losses caused by home schooling. It has since become a regular programme held every summer during the final two weeks before the start of the school year. It lasts three weeks overall because schools outside eastern Austria begin one week later.

Wiederkehr said the programme was an important instrument for educational equality and opportunities.