Children born here

German is not spoken in many schools

The majority of Viennese pupils do not speak German in everyday life.(Bild: Fotowerk)

Speaking several languages is always a good thing and certainly not a disadvantage. It becomes a problem for schools when German is not spoken or only spoken very poorly. The number of these children is increasing in Viennese schools.

Vienna's schools, and teachers in particular, face many challenges from Monday. Language teaching will be a particularly big one. A look at the statistics shows that seven percent of all schoolchildren in Vienna are classified as exceptional pupils. This is the term used to describe children who are unable to follow lessons due to a lack of German language skills.