Compulsory school leaving certificate – graduation ceremony at the Götzis adult education center on February 9th, 2023 – the successful graduates are happy about the certificates.
©VHS Götzis
Used the second chance. 15 people have completed their compulsory schooling at the Götzis Adult Education Center.
Throughout Austria, around 5,000 young people leave the education system every year without a positive compulsory school certificate. It is estimated that there are 220,000 people in Austria without a compulsory school leaving certificate. A positive compulsory school leaving certificate is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for finding an apprenticeship and completing vocational training. The basic skills that are associated with a positive compulsory school leaving certificate are also an important prerequisite for further learning processes in the linguistic, cultural and social areas as well as for access to higher education.
At the Volkshochschule Götzis graduated in the 2022/23 school year 20 people the preparatory course for the compulsory school leaving certificate. The certificate ceremony took place on February 9, 2023 at the adult education center in Götzis. 15 graduates were allowed to submit their complete certificates to Compulsory school leaving certificate in the second educational path accept.
Presented at the celebrations in the Götzis adult education center
VHS director Stefan Fischnaller the graduates the diplomas. “No connection without a degree,” said VHS manager Stefan Fischnaller. He was particularly pleased that more than 90% of the mixed course run by the VHS-Götzis, with young people from Vorarlberg, young people with a migration background and refugees, achieved a positive result. “This degree is very positive proof that things work best together – especially when it comes to integration.”
The compulsory school-leaving course with 6 final exams at the VHS-Götzis lasts two semesters. It is aimed at young people from the age of 16 and adults. Good knowledge of German is required. Some graduates then register for a technical or commercial school or attend vocational colleges such as HTL or HAK. The PSA degree also increases your chances of finding an apprenticeship position enormously.
Stefan Fischnaller also underlined in his acceptance speech the work of the dedicated and professional teachers and also the good cooperation with the social pedagogues of the IFS Youth Advice Center Mühletor.
The happy faces at the distribution of certificates and the subsequent celebration confirm this.
Since 2001, the Götzis adult education center has been offering courses to catch up on compulsory schooling under the motto “It’s never too late”. Since then, around 900 people have taken part in the courses. Participation is free. Adults and young people from the age of 16 from Austria and other countries (regardless of the residence permit) can prepare for the completion of compulsory schooling free of charge – regardless of whether they want to improve individual negative subjects or catch up on the entire qualification. The project is financed with funds from the European Social Fund, the state of Vorarlberg and the Federal Ministry of Education.
Location is the adult education center in Götzis.
Lesson times: Monday to Friday, starting at 8:10 a.m., sometimes also on Saturday.
The course times are based on the regular school system – no lessons during vacation periods and on school-free days. The course always starts in February and September.
A total of six exams must be taken: the exams in the four compulsory subjects “Mathematics”, “German – Communication and Society”, “English – Globality and Transculturality” and “Career Orientation” as well as two exams from the elective subjects. The participants can choose the elective subjects that correspond to their interests and talents: “Creativity and Design”, “Health and Social Affairs” and “Nature and Technology” are available.
The next course starts again in autumn 2023, details and registration: https://www.vhs-goetzis.at/bildungswege/obligatory school leaving certificate/
