Teacher shortage - Education collapse feared - minister contraryconfident
Brandenburg's Education Minister Steffen Freiberg remains optimistic about the upcoming school year despite the teacher shortage. "We have been able to recruit a significant number of colleagues," the SPD politician told the German Press Agency. He emphasized, "Yes, we cannot do without part-time teachers or substitute teachers. That's just the way it is in Eastern Germany." The exact number of missing teaching staff will likely only be known shortly before the start of the new school year. Freiberg referred to several ongoing measures such as the 63+ program for the continued employment of teachers, a new recruitment campaign, and the Land Teacher Scholarship.
Facing the teacher shortage, parent and student representatives expect medium-term consequences on the educational quality in Brandenburg schools. "It is expected that only half of the teaching positions at Brandenburg schools will be filled with fully qualified teachers by 2030," according to a statement from the newly founded alliance "Together for a School with Teachers!" The minister considers part-time teachers necessary. "I understand the concern, but we cannot do without part-time teachers," said Freiberg.
Alliance: Teachers increasingly overburdened
Approximately 400 teacher trainees graduate annually, according to the alliance. In contrast, around 1700 new teaching positions are required for the educational system each year. "We are receiving more and more complaints about overburdened teachers," said Hartmut Stäker, President of the Brandenburg Teachers' Association. They "cannot coach new teachers or work two jobs permanently." The alliance plans to present a catalog of measures in the coming months.
The current number of teacher graduates does not reach far enough to meet the demand, according to the alliance, which includes teachers, parents, students, and students. "Some students are used as class monitors, some children cannot write when they transition to higher schools. Classes are combined for long periods or multiple classes are supervised by one teacher without instruction," explained Ulrike Mauersberger, spokesperson for the State Parents' Council.
Minister: New program shows first results
The 63+ program for older teachers is reportedly having its first impact according to the Minister. "I know that a three-digit number of colleagues are in contact with the state school authorities," said Freiberg. "That's not in our projections yet." He expressed optimism that they would also be able to recruit a number of colleagues who would be willing to stay in the civil service longer starting from August 1. 257 job offers were reportedly issued for the upcoming school year as of the current status. "We started the school year 22/23 with around 540 job offers."
The Education Minister drew a positive balance of the school year. "In Brandenburg, there are no reports with the notation: The grade was not given because instruction was not provided. The lost instruction time due to absences in this school year remained at 2.5 percent compared to the previous year and did not increase significantly. That's a achievement of the teachers," according to the ministry. In the winter semester, the 2.5 percent corresponded to around 172,000 hours of lost instruction time.
On Wednesday, the last school day before the summer holidays, over 316,700 girls and boys at 938 schools in Brandenburg received their certificates.
- Despite the ongoing teacher shortage in Eastern Germany, Brandenburg's Education Minister Steffen Freiberg remains hopeful for the upcoming school year.
- The SPD politician emphasized the necessity of utilizing part-time teachers and substitute teachers due to the teacher shortage in Brandenburg.
- The alliance "Together for a School with Teachers!" anticipates that only half of the teaching positions in Brandenburg schools will be filled with fully qualified teachers by 2030.
- The Brandenburg Teachers' Association has been receiving an increasing number of complaints about overburdened teachers, struggling to coach new teachers and maintain multiple jobs.
- Freiberg reported positive results from the 63+ program, with a three-digit number of older teachers in contact with the state school authorities for potential employment later this year.
