The student's parents have contacted local politicians and have called for urgent repairs and renovations to be made.

“We want to point out the shortcomings at the Oberwart boarding school and demand that action be taken,” a message on a Facebook group set up by students says.

The college specialises in fashion, product management, economics, and tourism and also trains Kindergarten teachers. Accommodation is in four bed dormitories. 

A meeting took place at the school on Thursday evening, where parents and students raised their concerns and complaints. “Even the mayor was a bit surprised that the mattresses haven't been changed since the school opened 40 years ago (!!!!), and that none of the beds have a slatted base,” a note on the Facebook site said.

According to a report in the Kronen Zeitung newspaper students were also angry that the school had allegedly tried to cover up the shocking state of disrepair by having a caretaker paint over patches of mould the day before the meeting.

Photos on the Facebook page show there are still areas of the school which are mouldy and falling apart.

Local Green party MP Wolfgang Spitzmüller said that the school is long overdue a renovation. “An adjacent school, which shares some of the boarding school’s facilities as well as its water and heating systems, was completely renovated in June,” he said.

He added that conditions at the school represent a health hazard and it isn't fair that parents and students are having to pay for such shoddy accommodation.

One father said that he was hoping to speak in person to regional governor Hans Niessl to discuss what could be done.