Vienna starts Democracy School”: Students shape their future!

Vienna starts Democracy School”: Students shape their future!

On April 1, 2025, an important new educational project was launched in Vienna: the “Democracy School Vienna”. This pilot project is to be implemented in five Viennese schools from autumn 2025 in order to actively involve students in democratic processes. Vice Mayor Bettina Emmerling took part in the opening event and accompanied the first workshop, which took place at the GTMS Barbara Prammer School in the Donaustadt. Here, the students designed concepts for their school of the future, which focused on important topics such as clothing regulations, the school buffet and lesson design.

The goal of the project is to create a school culture that is characterized by participation, respect and diversity. The project is supported by the Vienna Youth Centers Association and experienced experts in the field of democracy education. This support will take place over a year, with schools starting with a self-assessment and developing individual action plans.

Goals and methodology of the democracy school

A central concern of the project is to anchor democratic principles and participation in everyday school life. The students should learn how they can actively influence everyday issues such as the design of their school environment. This not only promotes a sense of community, but also trust within the school community.

At the end of the project, the schools will receive the “Democracy School Vienna” certificate. An additional planned “democracy kit” will provide materials that can be used for sustainable democracy education in schools. The positive effects on school culture and trust between students and teachers are expected results of this initiative.

Democracy as an educational goal

The importance of democracy education in schools is also emphasized by the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK). Its mission is to enable young people to competently assess political, social and economic issues. The aim is to promote values ​​such as freedom, democracy, human rights, justice, economic security and peace. All subjects, especially those in the social sciences, are committed to this educational approach. At a KMK conference, the need for democracy education in schools was emphasized again in order to prepare students for active and informed participation in society.

The “Democracy School Vienna” initiative is therefore not just a local project, but part of a broader goal of integrating democratic education into schools sustainably and effectively. The involvement of experts and continuous support over a year ensure the quality of the implementation and have a positive influence on the learning and participation skills of the participating students.

Overall, the “Democracy School Vienna” can be viewed as a decisive step towards an active and committed school community that is committed to the ideal goal of a vibrant democracy.

For further information on the topic of democracy education in schools, the article from the KMK can be accessed: KMK on democracy education.

You can find out more about the pilot project in Vienna here: Wien.gv.at to the democracy school.