Kritzendorf private primary school faces uncertain future as operator withdraws

Austria’s Association of Religious Schools will end its role as operator of the private primary school in Kritzendorf after this school year, leaving the school’s future uncertain, ORF reported. The association, known as VOSÖ, says rising maintenance costs and falling enrolment have made it impossible to continue running the school.

The school, in the Tulln district, has 143 pupils. VOSÖ has operated it since 2022 and attributes the decline in enrolment to demographic changes. It has stopped accepting new registrations.

VOSÖ is in talks with the city of Klosterneuburg and the education directorate about a solution. Parents have been informed, and the association says it hopes existing pupils can complete primary school there. The future of the teaching staff is also under discussion with the education directorate.

Klosterneuburg Mayor Christoph Kaufmann said the talks were at an early stage and that the city had been surprised by the announcement. He said the city was working on possible solutions, with taking over the property as a municipality his preferred option. Any takeover would depend on funding and agreement with VOSÖ.

Kaufmann called closure the worst outcome, saying it would be difficult to accommodate the school’s eight classes in the regular school system and that pupils might have to be split up from their friends. He said the city hoped to find a solution by the end of the year. The education directorate said all parties were working towards a good outcome for pupils but had no further details.