Salzburg summer school enrolment more than doubles

Nearly 2,000 pupils are attending Salzburg’s summer school this year, more than twice as many as last year, ORF reported. Pupils in German-support classes are required to take part for the first time.

The increase is partly due to pupils who were classified as extraordinary pupils because of language deficits during the previous summer semester, as well as those who attended German-support classes. In Salzburg, 819 pupils are taking part under the new requirement.

The summer school is running at almost 40 locations across the province. At the secondary school in Bad Vigaun in the Tennengau district, nearly 90 pupils are preparing for the coming school year. Over two weeks, they are studying German, mathematics, English and general studies.

Philipp Aberger, head of the summer school in Bad Vigaun, said the programme was intended to improve the German skills of pupils in German-support classes before the new school year began. While a great deal could be achieved in two weeks, he said, building a complete foundation in that time was difficult.

Finding enough teachers had been a challenge, Aberger said, but the school had succeeded. More than 70 teacher-training students are also supporting the programme across Salzburg.

Teacher-training student Magdalena Schörghofer described the programme as a unique experience because it allowed students to gradually enter everyday school life without immediately taking on a full workload. It also gave them the opportunity to carry out creative projects, she said.

The school year begins for all pupils across Salzburg in one week. According to the provincial government, almost all vacant teaching positions have been filled.