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Teacher shortage in Saxony: New forces for overloaded schools!
Leipzig is struggling with a shortage of teachers: 1,114 new teachers start in Saxony, while there is a risk of classes being canceled.
Teacher shortage in Saxony: New forces for overloaded schools!
The shortage of teachers in Germany is an urgent problem that is putting a strain on the education systems not only in Saxony, but across the board. In Saxony, 1,114 young professionals and career changers will start working as teachers in the new school year, like this Leipziger Volkszeitung reported. This is a ray of hope, but the shortage of teachers remains a major issue there, even though only 885 of these newcomers have completed regular teacher training as well as the traineeship and both state examinations.
The situation poses challenges: Despite the new hires, massive teaching cancellations are expected. In recent years, according to the Federal Agency for Civic Education not significantly improved. Over the past two decades, newspapers have repeatedly reported on the unsolved teacher problem, which is not only noticeable in Saxony, but also in numerous other federal states. The Conference of Ministers of Education predicts a shortage of over 17,400 teachers nationwide by 2024, which could only change slowly in the coming years.
New faces in the teaching landscape
When they take on their new positions, the newly qualified teachers bring their perspectives and ideas with them. Jonathan Seibt, a 26-year-old new teacher for sports and biology, comes from the 68th secondary school in Leipzig-Gohlis. He emphasizes the importance of seeing students as people and instilling a passion for their subjects. Seibt will take over the management of a new fifth class. He is concerned about the overload of teachers, which can have a negative impact on students.
Klara Leinen, 29, teaches music and German at the Wiprecht-Gymnasium Groitzsch. She consciously sees her decision for this special place as an enrichment, although she has clear demands. Leinen criticizes the insufficient relief for teachers and the cuts in school social work and administrative assistance, which place additional strain on school operations. For them, cohesion in the teaching profession is essential in order to improve working conditions.
Sebastian Wagner, 39, also chose to study communication sciences before studying German and biology to become a high school teacher. He explicitly chose a high school in a rural area. Wagner attaches great importance to relationship work and the individual support of students, but also expresses concerns about the overload of teachers and the need for additional school social workers and assistants.
Challenges in the education system
The shortage of teachers is not just a question of quantity, but also of quality. In many federal states, over 25% of new hires are unqualified, while in Saxony there is a tradition of recruiting graduates from within their own ranks. A look at the statistics of Statista shows that student numbers are increasing due to a baby boom in the 2010s. The forecast even predicts an increase in student numbers of over 9% by 2035. This will increase the need to provide enough trained teachers to meet the demands.
These pressing questions about school operations must be addressed in a diverse and sustainable manner. In the coming years, it remains crucial to take the right measures to ensure the education of our children. If the teacher shortage continues like this, there is only hope for a fundamental change in teacher policy and better acceptance of the responsible professions.