Ramadan has begun, sparking significant debates in Vienna's schools. One headteacher reported postponed celebrations, exhausted children, and increasing pressure from social media.

The onset of Ramadan is causing rising tensions in Vienna’s educational institutions. This year, the fasting period coincided precisely with Shrove Tuesday, leading some schools to postpone their celebrations. A headteacher sounded the alarm, stating, „The situation is getting worse year by year,” in an interview with Heute. Fasting is strictly regulated in Islam: adherents abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk. Typically, children are exempt from this practice, but the reality, according to the school, tells a different story.

„Students are mimicking adults,” the school administration explains. In secondary schools, the majority of students are Muslim. Although the topic is discussed in religious classes, „many children do not attend these lessons, and we find it difficult to reach them.” Another factor is social media. According to the headteacher, numerous videos circulate featuring so-called preachers encouraging children to fast, as reported by the Austrian newspaper Exxpress.

The consequences are evident in everyday school life. „The children are tired, irritable, and unable to concentrate,” the school administration states. Last year, a student collapsed during physical education class. „We offer water to the children, but they refuse it. They also turn down food during cooking classes.” Students claim they are fasting.

One teacher expressed particular concern that fasting has become a competition among some students. „Some students turn it into a contest to see who can go the longest without eating,” she added.

In addition to health implications, the school is also monitoring social changes. „We had a student who suddenly came to school completely veiled overnight,” the headteacher explained. Many girls wear special Ramadan attire.

It seems that the shared experience of fasting fosters a strong sense of belonging among the children. However, language barriers complicate communication with parents. „Initially, only a few fourth graders were fasting, but now it affects the majority of my students,” the headmistress said.

Der Ramadan hat begonnen – und sorgt in Wiens Schulen für massive Diskussionen. Eine Schulleitung berichtet von verschobenen Feiern, erschöpften Kindern und wachsendem Druck durch Social Media. https://t.co/iduAHqUgU1 pic.twitter.com/26uoB7kcpc

— exxpress (@exxpressat) February 21, 2026

Schools feel abandoned

Efforts to counteract these trends have been underway for some time. Discussions with parents and students aim to raise awareness. „We try to encourage them to apply the concept of fasting to other areas, such as giving up their mobile phones,” the school administration explains. However, problems persist, and the headteacher is seeking more support from the regional education authority. „Currently, each school is struggling with these challenges alone,” she said. Furthermore, more educational and preventive work is needed within communities, as it is evident that Ramadan is no longer merely a private matter of faith but directly impacts everyday school life.

When celebrations need to be postponed, students collapse during physical education classes, and refuse food in class, teachers are reaching their limits.

Even eight-year-olds are fasting

Children are generally exempt from fasting, but there are primary school students who abstain from eating during this month. A teacher shared her experiences with Heute. She currently teaches a third-grade class. The children should be around eight years old, but some have already failed two grades in primary school, making them eleven or twelve. „We had issues today. Some children had terrible stomach and headaches because they were fasting,” the teacher said.

„They know they don’t have to, even the religious education teacher explained it to them, but they are not interested.” The children are tired, apathetic, in pain, and unable to concentrate; „physical education is completely out of the question this month – they have no energy.” „I have to do many things differently. I often let them learn independently; traditional frontal teaching simply does not work; they cannot process it,” the teacher added, noting that last year – when the children were seven – only five out of the 16 Muslim children in the class were fasting initially. As she stated,

„Those who did not participate were teased by their classmates; eventually, only eight remained who ate nothing.”

She added, „Peer pressure is dominant; they are bullied if they do not fast. One boy unwrapped his snack, and the other boys pressured him – the next day, he joined in.”

According to her, the children become anxious, conflicts arise, „there is a lot of arguing during breaks, and the children are very irritable.”

In the informational booklet of the Austrian Islamic Religious Community (distributed by the Ministry of Education in schools), it states:

„Every child is different in their developmental process, and physical and health considerations vary individually. If a child wants to fast, they should fast. The child will then decide with their parents whether they are physically and mentally ready for fasting.”