An Abendgymnasium or "evening gymnasium" is a German class of secondary school for adults over the age of 18 which allows them to gain the Abitur. They were started in the 1920s as an opportunity for working class adults to improve their career options.
To gain access to these schools, the pupils need to be at least 18 years old, needs to have finished at least nine years of school before,[1] and need to have completed vocational training or two years of being a stay-at-home parent. Anyone not fulfilling these requirements would usually attend a standard, day-time gymnasium to gain the Abitur. Evening schools are focused on providing further education for adults who do not have the time to attend during the day. Classes are usually held after 17:30, although some classes may be held in the mornings for parents with school-age children.[2] Lessons are taught in a similar fashion to those at a typical German gymnasium and students will often remain at the school for four years before taking their final exams. Some institutions allow for online learning whereby students can complete the coursework for the Abitur at home and only need attend the school two nights a week.
Tuition is typically free of charge for Germans at these schools. If the attendee has indirect costs, like having to reduce their work hours to attend school, they can get financial aid through BaföG. These financial aids are not repaid after graduation.[3]
In some federal states of Germany, private schools offer Abendgymnasium courses, too. They usually charge between €50 per month and €800 per year.
Abendgymnasium Wien is a public evening school that leads to the Matura examination. It was founded in 1925, making it one of the oldest Abendgymnasiums in Europe. After World War I, preparatory courses for obtaining the secondary school leaving certificate (Mittelschulmatura) were initiated by Wanda Lanzer and apprentices of the Mollardgasse vocational school.[4] In 1925, the "Secondary School Course" received official approval from the Vienna School Board. Arthur Pollak was the pedagogical director of the new institution. In 1939, the evening school was finally dissolved. In 1945, it was re-established as a "Workers' Secondary School" by the social partners. The private school was granted public rights and, in 1960, was declared a federal school by parliamentary resolution. Directors during the reconstruction period were Alfred Bohmann and Ferdinand Hübner. In the 1990s, under the directorship of Oskar Achs, the duration of studies was reduced to eight semesters, and a distance learning program was introduced in the winter semester of 2010/11 under Klaus Brandl. With the winter semester of 2014/15, the school moved to Brünner Straße 72, after being located at Henriettenplatz for decades and additionally at Singrienergasse 21 for several years. The current head of the school is Anneliese Albrecht. Prerequisites for attending the school include successfully completing the eighth grade and turning 17 years old by the calendar year of admission. Previous education is individually recognized. Attendance at the Abendgymnasium Wien is free of charge. Class periods last 45 minutes. Most modules are held from 17:55 to 21:20. Since the winter semester of 2010/11, there has been an afternoon schedule, and since the winter semester of 2014/15, there has been a morning schedule (starting at 10:05). In addition to English, foreign languages offered include Latin, French, Spanish, and Turkish. Since January 2022, the proposal to introduce Hebrew and Arabic as additional foreign languages has been under discussion.
In 2024 Abendgymnasium Wien faced allegations of tolerating antisemitism when antisemitic drawings and slurs within the school building were revealed to the public. The offensive material was found in various locations, causing significant concern among students. An article written by a teacher of the school in the newspaper "Presse" described the situation, noting that pro-Palestinian activists at the school publicly expressed "aggressive antisemitism:"
"On tables, walls, in the hallway, on the toilets, and during lessons, an increasing number of pro-Palestinian activists expressed aggressive antisemitism as a core aspect of their worldview. Is it surprising that they view this ideology as acceptable? That they fail to understand that fantasies of extermination towards Israel and the entire Jewish community in the Middle East represent 'endorsement of terrorist crimes,' as § 282a of the Criminal Code stipulates? When a teacher at the school has published a book with Wilhelm Langthaler, the mastermind behind Palestine Solidarity Austria, who describes Israel as a 'colonial power,' maligns not Hamas but the Israeli army as 'terrorists,' and although he avoids the term 'Jewish world conspiracy,' he denounces 'American hegemony,' it is not surprising that, following Hamas terrorism, there was not dismay but joy in the school auditorium. Or, as one student put it: 'Actually, the Jews are to blame themselves for what happened to them.' The school's stance remains indefinable to outsiders and to me, as there have been no public statements from the school leadership regarding these inhumane attitudes."[5]
A student of the school turned to the school community and reported that
"there are still recurring antisemitic incidents at our school that must no longer be tolerated. Statements like “Free Palestine + Fuck Israel” are things that we should never accept. In this evening school, there are probably more students who have already faced racism, prejudice, hostility, and xenophobia than in other schools. So how is it that we are the ones tolerating such statements on our walls? Why is it that those who should know exactly what it feels like to be confronted with unwarranted hatred are the ones allowing it?" [6]
Despite the severity of the situation, neither the headteacher Anneliese Albrecht nor any other school officials commented on or addressed the issue in public. The inaction raised serious concerns about the institution's commitment to addressing hate speech and discrimination.
Abendgymnasium Salzburg is a state-run general higher education institution for vocational education and second-chance education in the Austrian city of Salzburg. It provides individuals aged 17 and older the opportunity to obtain the school leaving certificate (Evening High School Diploma) and thereby gain full access to universities and universities of applied sciences. The location for face-to-face classes is in the classrooms of the Christian Doppler Gymnasium in the Lehen district of the city. Abendgymnasium Salzburg was founded in autumn 1957. It is the oldest of the eight Austrian evening high schools with public rights (AHS for working individuals, a special form of high school according to § 37 para. 3 of the School Organisation Act). Classes take place in the evenings and are free of charge. A comprehensive general education, handling of new media, learning foreign languages, and mastering key qualifications are at the core of the education. The modular course system can be tailored individually to the needs of the students, which may potentially shorten the duration of studies. It is also possible to take the leaving examination in parts, as the curriculum is divided into modules that can be completed consecutively through semester or final examinations. The teaching concept comprises, depending on individual choice, either the traditional form of evening high school with on-site classes from Monday to Friday, or distance learning, where joint classes (presence evenings) take place two evenings a week. The core teaching hours usually run from 6:45 pm to 9:55 pm; in some cases, classes may start a bit earlier. The school also offers scholarships and financial support.[7]
The courses consist of three main fields:[8]
Additional sports courses are voluntary.
The attendees of evening schools write the same final exams as pupils of all other public schools. The leaving certificate Abitur then allows them to attend universities.