Vorarlberg tutoring grant used only 12 times in five years

Vorarlberg’s state-funded tutoring grant was awarded only 12 times between 2020 and 2024, according to the Austrian Chamber of Labour, as reported by ORF. The chamber says the scheme is too little known and difficult to access.

The state of Vorarlberg supports families with tutoring costs under certain conditions. The grant is available to pupils from lower-income families who have received a failing grade in at least one subject.

It covers up to 15 tutoring sessions, with the amount depending on the family’s net income. Applications must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Vorarlberg provincial government within six months of receiving a school report or annual report.

Bernhard Heinzle, president of the Vorarlberg Chamber of Labour, cited a parliamentary inquiry from October 2025 showing that the grant had been claimed only 12 times over the previous five years. He said this indicated that the scheme was reaching very few of the families that needed it.

According to the chamber, the complicated application process, strict income and grade requirements, and limited scope of the grant also make the scheme unattractive. Heinzle called for an evaluation with the provincial government and said support models should be easier to access and reach affected families more effectively.

Families in Austria spend around 143.8 million euros on private tutoring each year, according to the chamber, or an average of about 720 euros per child.