Education - Pupil numbers in Lower Saxony continue to rise
In the schools of Lower Saxony, approximately 890,000 pupils are expected after the summer holidays, according to the Cultural Ministry in Hannover. This represents a further increase: In the previous school year, there were around 877,000 pupils, and two years ago, slightly over 868,000 children and adolescents attended school.
However, in November, the state had predicted a student population of 906,000 for this year. The increase is therefore lower than anticipated. The state had even anticipated more than one million students by 2030 in the fall of the previous year. The fact that the number fell below expectations this year is explained by the ministry, among other things, due to a correction of around 10,000 in the estimation for refugee schoolchildren compared to the fall.
Approximately how many children are expected to enroll
Approximately 81,000 boys and girls are expected to enroll as first-graders this year. This number, which also depends on whether parents delay their children's enrollment, is on par with the previous year.
Approximately 75,000 pupils are expected to transition from primary to secondary school. This is slightly more than the 73,000 sixth-graders who began the previous year.
Teacher shortage has been an issue for years
Classrooms should also be fuller: So far, 2,164 new teachers have been selected. This is fewer than in the previous year (2023: 2,563), but more than the roughly 1,700 teachers who left service in the previous school year. A total of more than 71,000 teachers work at Lower Saxony's general education schools.
The low teaching supply of 96.9% - a value calculated from the ratio of students and teaching hours - has been a contentious issue in Lower Saxony for years. According to the ministry, preparations for the new school year are going well.
So far, approximately 1,200 new teachers have been hired for the new school year
The state has advertised 1,466 positions as of August 1. Of these, 1,193 teachers have already been selected by July 8, which represents 81% of the advertised positions. The Cultural Ministry considers this a good value.
"We are optimistic that some positions will still be filled in the coming days and weeks," said a ministry spokesperson. The hiring process will also be continued beyond August 1, allowing for further fillings.
- The Cultural Ministry in Hannover, located in Lower Saxony, predicted an increase in the number of students after the summer holidays, expecting around 890,000 pupils.
- Despite the anticipated increase, the actual number of pupils was lower than expected, with approximately 810,000 children and adolescents expected to enroll.
- With the expected 810,000 students, Lower Saxony's schools will need to accommodate a large number of children, including 75,000 pupils transitioning from primary to secondary school.
- To address the ongoing teacher shortage in Lower Saxony, the Cultural Ministry has advertised 1,466 teaching positions for the new school year and has already selected 1,193 teachers, representing 81% of the advertised positions.
