- Increase in pupils enrolling in the current academic term
Berlin's educational institutions have seen a notable surge in student enrollment during the latest academic year. Preliminary statistics from the education administration indicate that approximately 404,000 students are attending general education schools following the summer break, representing an increase of 9,000 students compared to the previous year. This is the first time in 25 years that the 400,000 milestone has been surpassed at Berlin's publicly-funded schools. Additionally, over 78,000 young individuals are pursuing their education at vocational schools, surpassing last year's count by 100 students.
Katharina Günther-Wünsch, the Education Senator from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), shared her thoughts with the German Press Agency, stating, "Classes remain crowded." She attributed this rise to Berlin's development as a growing city and its status as a magnet for immigration. refugee children and young people are being taught in welcome classes and regular classes, with over 14,000 individuals being enrolled last year.
Teaching staff shortage persists
A deficiency in teaching staff continues to be a challenge, with an estimated requirement for approximately 32,000 full-time positions, much like previous years ahead of the new school year's commencement on September 2. Günther-Wünsch estimated that around 690 open positions currently exist, a figure that is similar to May. The situation is expected to evolve in the coming weeks as recruitment processes are still underway.
Günther-Wünsch pointed out that last year, she had initially assumed that 1,500 positions would remain open. She highlighted extended recruitment periods and the possibility for schools to convert teacher positions into roles for pedagogical assistants or other professions as notable improvements.
However, Günther-Wünsch noted that often-agreed employment contracts are not honored due to unforeseen circumstances during the summer break. Consequently, the exact number of positions that can be filled by year's end remains unclear. Reliable data will only be available following the customary quick survey after the start of the school year and then through a statistical survey conducted in November.
Lateral entrants and career changers play a crucial role
The new teaching staff pool has traditionally included more than 3,000 lateral entrants and career changers in recent years. While they don't possess a pedagogical qualification in two Berlin school subjects, they do hold professional qualifications. Günther-Wünsch emphasized that in light of the nationwide teacher shortage, Berlin continues to hire both seasoned educators and lateral entrants. Their proportion in recent hires has been around 50% in the past few years, with an upward trend observed.
Günther-Wünsch argued that these individuals, with their diverse skill sets, contribute positively to schools. She warned against stigmatizing them, noting that they will be essential in the coming years. The expansion of teacher training programs at universities does not directly translate into schools. "It takes seven years for the students to graduate. I expect that within the next five to eight years, we will also have more fundamentally qualified pedagogues with two subjects again," she shared.
Permanent prospects for single-subject teachers
The Senator has proposed a new initiative to secure stable job opportunities for so-called single-subject teachers in schools. These individuals, such as mathematics or geography graduates, often serve as lateral entrants with temporary contracts due to their lack of qualifications in a second or third school subject.
Günther-Wünsch explained that the objective is to retain these teachers within the system, provide them with a career path, and establish a long-term commitment to the school system. According to her, discussions with the Senate Department for Science and universities are progressing positively, leading her to be optimistic about launching training programs for single-subject teachers at universities by summer 2025. This initiative involves a pedagogical upskilling and qualification process, not a full-scale study program.
The Senator also aims to address the uneven teacher distribution across the city. "The teacher shortage is not balanced. Some schools struggle more than others to attract teachers," she pointed out.
To tackle this issue, the Senator, along with the twelve regional school authorities, aims to collaborate to ensure that the timetable, or regular lesson plan, is covered at every school. Among other strategies, a roundtable meeting with school leadership associations has been established to modify the allocation guideline in order to distribute teachers more effectively across schools according to demand.
Günther-Wünsch emphasized that by the end of the year, it is her hope to have collaborated with all stakeholders to finalize the modified allocation guideline, enabling targeted control to be implemented for the upcoming school year. In areas with higher teacher demand, newcomers may choose to prioritize school placements with fewer challenges or conflicts.
The German Press Agency reported Katharina Günther-Wünsch's comments regarding the teaching staff shortage, stating, "Despite the need for 32,000 full-time teaching positions, only 690 vacancies remain, with the situation expected to improve in the coming weeks."
In her conversation with the German Press Agency, Günther-Wünsch highlighted the importance of lateral entrants and career changers, stating, "Berlin continues to hire both seasoned educators and lateral entrants, with their proportion in recent hires at around 50%."
