Teacher shortage in Saxony-Anhalt: Red alert in schools!

Teacher shortage in Saxony-Anhalt: Red alert in schools!

The situation at schools in Saxony-Anhalt is tense. A shortage of teachers remains an urgent issue that not only keeps the affected schools but also education policy on its toes. Unfortunately, due to varying factors such as illness, maternity leave and immigration, the Ministry of Education cannot provide a specific number of missing teachers for the coming school year. However, one thing is certain: the search for new teachers is in full swing. Primary schools in particular are urgently looking for teachers in subjects such as German, sports and music MDR reported.

The situation is similar in secondary and community schools. There is a significant need for teachers of maths, English and technology, to name a few. Teachers for subjects such as history and chemistry are urgently needed at high schools. The forecasts of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) predict a shortage of over 17,400 teachers by 2024, which will only ease slowly the German school portal explained.

An old bunch

Another problem is the age structure of the teachers. In Saxony-Anhalt, 57.1 percent of teachers are over 50 years old, which has a significant impact on schools. With 10.6 percent of teachers aged 60 and over, the age fluctuation is quickly noticeable. Loud Statista Schools can expect a wave of retirements in the coming years. Many teachers are retiring at the same time that student numbers are increasing due to the baby boom of the 2010s.

In the 2022/23 school year, the part-time quota of teachers rose to a record 42.3 percent. In addition, younger teachers under the age of 35 are only represented at 21.1 percent in general schools. A look at the numbers shows: Over 10 percent of teachers have not taken a recognized teaching qualification. This increases the challenge of finding qualified personnel.

What can be done about the teacher shortage?

The Education Council has already taken initial measures to combat the teacher shortage. This also includes a temporary reduction in timetables and the reform of teacher training. A survey by the Education Association showed that teaching positions are vacant in every second school. Primary schools and special schools in particular suffer from unfilled positions, which means that 66 percent of those surveyed have to employ people without teaching qualifications.

Overall, it is clear that the teacher shortage represents a long-term challenge that can only be addressed through cross-border coordination and adaptation of teacher training. The state of Saxony-Anhalt and the other federal states must now have a good hand in finding suitable solutions and improving the situation in schools as quickly as possible.