There is a shortage of head teachers in Thuringia, especially at elementary school
There is a shortage of head teachers in Thuringia, particularly at elementary school. This is according to a list of unfilled head teacher positions from the Ministry of Education, which is available to the German Press Agency. The figures refer to mid-August, i.e. a few days before the start of school. According to the figures, 61 of the 392 principal positions in the primary school sector were vacant. This corresponds to a share of around 15.6 percent. In contrast, only eight of the 86 principal positions at grammar schools were vacant - around 9.3 percent. Head teachers are generally paid more than normal teachers - and are graded higher.
At mainstream schools, only 3.45 percent of the 174 headteacher positions were vacant, while around ten percent were vacant in the special school sector. Overall, the proportion of unfilled head posts was around 10.8 percent - 86 unfilled posts out of a total of 804 head teacher posts.
As with the shortage of teachers, the Thuringian Ministry of Education speaks of a generational change. Teachers "who are considering taking on school leadership roles are being supported with preparatory qualifications", it said. There are also accompanying training courses for head teachers.
According to the spokesperson, prospective head teachers should feel well prepared for their tasks. This should also make the job more attractive. Thuringia's Minister of Education, Helmut Holter (Left Party), is also holding regional principal discussion rounds and digital principal consultation hours. The input from these discussions is being used.
The shortage of head teachers in Thuringia's elementary schools might be a concern for the quality of education at these institutions. Addressing this issue could involve attracting more individuals to pursue head teacher roles in elementary schools. Additionally, the Ministry of Education is providing preparatory qualifications and training courses for prospective head teachers, aiming to enhance their readiness and make the role more appealing.
Source: www.dpa.com
