The Vienna branch of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) is calling for a package of measures to address the high share of non-regular-status students in Vienna’s schools. The proportion among first-grade students is higher than ever, the party warns. The development is dramatic, they say, because nearly two-thirds of the children who cannot follow lessons due to insufficient German skills were born in Austria. Party leader Markus Figl and parliamentary group chair Harald Zierfuß criticized shortcomings in early childhood education on Wednesday.
The ÖVP requested current figures for the ongoing school year through parliamentary inquiries to Education City Councillor Bettina Emmerling (NEOS) and a request under the Freedom of Information Act. The city had recently stated that the overall share of non-regular-status students in compulsory schooling has declined. The People’s Party agrees, attributing the decrease to the halt in family reunification, which they say has led to fewer older children and adolescents newly entering schools.
Record level in first grades
In the age group entering elementary school, however, the ÖVP says a record level has been reached. The share in first grade rose at the start of the school year from 44.6 percent to 45.7 percent, with a total of 8,408 students. Figl and Zierfuß said pre-school children—most of whom also attend first-grade classes—must be included as well, noting that data are also being collected for this group.
When combining first-grade figures with those for pre-school children, the ÖVP says non-regular-status students now form a majority for the first time, accounting for 50.9 percent, or 10,931 students. The party holds the city responsible, arguing that many of these school entrants had attended kindergarten for years.
“This is a failure in the pre-school sector,” Figl said, noting that responsibility clearly lies with the federal states. The ÖVP is calling for language assessments for all three-year-olds and mandatory kindergarten attendance from that age if German-language support is needed. It also wants mandatory attendance increased from 20 to 30 hours per week.
The party further demands more language support staff and a higher staff-to-child ratio. “Every child must be able to speak German by the time they start school,” Zierfuß said. The ÖVP plans to raise the issue in the Vienna state parliament and has requested a special session.
