New rules for English grades in primary schools and fresh data showing rising loneliness across Austria make headlines, plus more stories from Austria on Wednesday.
Primary school pupils now receive grades in English
Primary school pupils in Austria are now being graded in their first foreign language, usually English, according to Der Standard. Under the new curriculum introduced in 2023/24, English becomes a compulsory subject with marks in the final two years of Volksschule.
Beginning this school year, third-grade pupils will receive a numerical English grade on their semester report. From next school year, the same will apply to fourth-grade classes.
The Education Ministry says the focus should remain on enjoyment and confidence in speaking. Formal correctness and pronunciation should not determine grades, and the English mark is not relevant for admission to AHS.
Epstein files show forged Austrian passport
Newly published files from the US Department of Justice show that Jeffrey Epstein possessed and used a forged Austrian passport, according to Kurier. The document, issued under an alias, contains multiple international entry and exit stamps from the 1980s.
Austrian authorities said they were not aware of the passport when US officials asked about it in 2019, after it was found in Epstein’s New York apartment. Investigations at the time did not identify the document’s origin.
The files also show that Epstein travelled briefly to Vienna in 2019 with three female companions before leaving again after a few hours.
Tourism winter season starts strongly despite inflation
Austria’s winter tourism season has begun with a strong increase in overnight stays, driven entirely by foreign visitors, according to ORF.at. Statistics Austria reported 5.73 million overnight stays in November, the highest November figure since digital records began in 1974.
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Overnight stays by foreign guests rose sharply, offsetting a decline in domestic tourism. Vienna recorded the strongest growth, followed by Tyrol and Salzburg.
Tourism officials say demand remains strong for the core winter months, although Austrian residents are travelling less and guests are increasingly cost-conscious.
Loneliness increasingly affects younger people in Austria
Loneliness is no longer confined to older age groups in Austria and is increasingly affecting young adults, according to new data cited by Die Presse. Statistics Austria found that 12 percent of people aged 18 to 34 say they feel lonely “always” or “most of the time”.
Among people over 80, around 26 percent report feeling lonely frequently or sometimes, with health problems and mobility restrictions among the key risk factors.
In response, the Social Ministry has launched a new initiative to fund projects aimed at combating loneliness through health, education, networking and volunteering.
What’s happening in Austria in the next days
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Today, Christmas Eve (Heiliger Abend), is not a legal public holiday in Austria, but it is one of the most important days in the calendar for many families.
In much of the country, the main household celebration takes place today, with families preparing during the day and gathering in the evening for Bescherung, when gifts are traditionally brought by the Christkind. Church services such as the Christmette later tonight are common, and many households collect the Friedenslicht and bring it home as part of the evening rituals.
The Austrian Parliament building is closed to visitors from today until Sunday, December 28th. Christmas Eve is not a legal public holiday, but many services operate on reduced schedules.
Shops may open from 6 am to 1 pm today. Under labour law, the normal working day ends at 1 pm, with any work after that counted as overtime, except for specific retail categories such as food, flowers, and Christmas tree sales.
In Vienna, all 13 municipal waste and recycling centres are open with reduced hours until 12 noon. Christmas school holidays begin nationwide today and run until January 6th.
Much of Austria will see overcast skies with snow falling to low levels. Heavier snowfall is expected in parts of Styria, East Tyrol and Lower Austria. In Vienna, light to moderate snowfall is forecast, with temperatures around 0C to 2C. Avalanche services warn of fresh wind-drifted snow in parts of Carinthia and Tyrol, especially on steep shady slopes at higher elevations.
Coming up later on The Local
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We publish our seasonal guide to Austria’s biggest festivals and events in 2026, from Eurovision in Vienna and Mozart Week in Salzburg to summer open-air festivals, Easter markets and wine celebrations across the country.
Vocabulary
die Volksschule – primary school
die Note – school grade or mark
der Reisepass – passport
die Einsamkeit – loneliness
der Schneefall – snowfall
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