Graz school shaken: ÖCV and city mourn the victims!

Graz school shaken: ÖCV and city mourn the victims!

Graz, Österreich - On June 11, 2025, the community in Graz mourns the victims of a serious violence at a school. ÖCV President Philipp Stadler-Simger said and was affected by the unimaginable loss that the families concerned suffered. In the difficult hours it is important to be a support for the bereaved and to devote a reasonable memory to the victims. According to Stadler-Simger, the emergency and emergency services, which was able to intervene quickly, must be particularly emphasized in this context. Your quick action has contributed to bringing the situation under control and ensuring the survival of the wounded. Their performance is recognized by the community with gratitude, such as [ots.at] (https://www.ots.at/presseaus-sung/ots_20250611_ots0010/oecv-trauert-mit-eltern-und- teacher-in-graz) emphasized.

The current tragedy illuminates a problem that is becoming more and more a topic in schools. According to a survey in Graz, published in April 2021, schools need sustainable solutions to deal with increasing violence. Several teachers and students have confirmed that forms of violence are increasingly being observed, which questions the security in the school areas. The discourse on violence in schools is not new, as current statistics show. Data from Statista show that almost every second teacher in Germany has already observed violence among their students.

increasing violence in schools

The numbers for violence among students are alarming. In 2022, violent accidents among students increased, but did not reach the level before Corona pandemic. A PISA study showed that more than 12% of the 15-year-old participants experience bullying several times a month. In some fourth grader groups, over 20% reported physical violence experienced at least once a week. In addition, the proportion of students who do not feel safe in their school is also worrying at around 17%. Particular attention is paid to socially disadvantaged schools, where almost 70% of the teachers speak of a serious problem of violence.

In addition, cyberbullying is perceived as a growing problem. A survey by the Barmer shows a slight increase in experiences with cyberbullying among young people in 2023. Over 80% of the parents have spoken out in an early survey for anti-violence training to sensitize pupils and prevent preventive against violence and bullying. These challenges require immediate action on the part of the educational institutions and society.

The events in Graz are another sad reference to the explosiveness of the topic of violence in schools. It is important to understand that every incident concerns not only the immediate victim, but the entire community. The loss of losing a school also means that we all have to work together on solutions to prevent such tragedies in the future.