Discipline Crisis in Austrian Schools: Suspensions Have Tripled
The latest data released by the Austrian Ministry of Education on student suspensions reveal a dramatic rise in disciplinary problems across the country’s school system. According to the response to a parliamentary inquiry submitted by the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), temporary suspension decisions issued against students have tripled over the past three years. The number of suspensions, which stood at 659 in the 2020/21 school year, rose to 2,013 in 2023/24. The increase is particularly evident in middle schools—known as Mittelschule—where suspensions surged from 326 to 1,147 cases. In primary schools, the number rose from 160 to 353.
FPÖ Family Spokesperson Ricarda Berger stated that the figures clearly reveal a nationwide disciplinary crisis and harshly criticized Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr. “Violence, disrespect, and severe disciplinary problems are rapidly increasing in schools. This situation is the most concrete indicator of political failure. Teachers, students, and families are the ones paying the price for this crisis,” Berger said. According to the FPÖ spokesperson, integration problems—especially those related to migrant students—have been ignored for years, and no concrete steps have been taken in the government’s program.
The FPÖ is calling for broader authority for school administrators, swift and decisive measures in response to disciplinary violations, mandatory meetings with parents, and the replacement of ineffective educational workshops with interventions that produce real results. The party emphasizes that schools must be safe spaces for all children and urges the government to act immediately.