- 536,000 students start the new school year in Saxony
Vacation Over: For 536,000 students in Saxony, summer holidays are over, and it's back to the classrooms at state and private schools. "I wish our students a good start and I'm confident they can achieve their goals and good intentions in their new grade," said Saxony's Minister of Education, Christian Piwarz (CDU). Especially exciting is the start of school for the approximately 40,500 first-graders.
According to the ministry, 18,289 more students are attending schools this academic year compared to the previous one. Public schools have seen the largest increase, with around 452,750 students (compared to 436,180 last year). The number of students at private schools has also increased slightly, from 81,531 to approximately 83,290.
Teacher shortage remains a challenge
Piwarz pointed out that the Saxon education system offers various paths to success, such as through secondary schools, grammar schools, or comprehensive schools. However, despite hiring more than 1,000 educators at the start of the new school year, there is still a shortage of teachers, particularly at secondary and special schools. Ensuring adequate teaching coverage remains a challenge, he said.
So far, 1,033 people have been hired, mainly at grammar schools and primary schools. 773 of them are qualified teachers, 120 are pedagogical support staff at special schools, but they do not replace special education teachers. Additionally, 140 lateral entrants will begin teaching after completing their training.
Refugee Children Await School Places
According to the Saxon Children's Rights Association, more than 1,600 refugee children and young people are currently waiting for a school place. This situation contradicts the fundamental principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the German Constitution, and current school law. "All children have the right to education and participation. Refugee children have to wait up to a year for a school place," criticized the chairwoman of the association, Silke Brewig-Lange. This significantly reduces their educational and thus their participation opportunities.
The first-graders, excited for their first day, join the 40,500 other students at their respective schools, marking the end of vacation for the 536,000 students in Saxony. Despite the increase in student numbers, the Minister of Education, Christian Piwarz, acknowledges the ongoing challenge of teacher shortage, particularly in secondary and special schools.
