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Teachers Reinforcement in Saxony's Schools: Minister of Education Celebrates, GEW Interprets as Overworking Teachers

Ministers of Culture: Should they not set an exemplary standard in handling complex tasks, and if so, what valuable insights do they provide when supported by data?

Teachers Recruitment in Saxony's Schools: Education Minister Rejoices, GEW Interprets as Levites...
Teachers Recruitment in Saxony's Schools: Education Minister Rejoices, GEW Interprets as Levites Being Called

Teachers Reinforcement in Saxony's Schools: Minister of Education Celebrates, GEW Interprets as Overworking Teachers

In the Free State of Saxony, a significant teacher shortage is causing concern among educators and students. According to GEW Saxony, the trade union for education and science, around 9% of lessons were canceled last school year due to this shortage, and an estimated 4,000 additional teachers are needed to ensure full lesson coverage [1].

Despite the Ministry of Education reporting the hiring of over 1,000 new teachers (including 885 qualified specialists) and 229 lateral entrants beginning training, the union remains pessimistic about meeting demand. The overall number of pupils has increased by around 10,000 compared to last year, partly due to migration, adding further pressure on staffing [1].

The current education policy in Saxony is facing criticism from GEW Saxony. They argue that the "21 measures" introduced by the Ministry of Culture to combat lesson cancellations are worsening the quality at schools. The fair distribution of available teachers throughout Saxony remains a major challenge, with the employment rate on teaching posts in comprehensive schools decreasing slightly compared to the previous year [1].

GEW Saxony also criticizes the current budget decisions in education for exacerbating an already tense situation due to the teacher shortage. They demand a realignment of education policy, including targeted incentives for rural areas, secondary schools, and special schools, and an education package that puts quality and justice at the center [1].

In terms of education policy, some updates are being introduced this school year: updated curricula in German and mathematics, a pilot project for interdisciplinary teaching, and the introduction of AI teaching assistants and the Bettermarks learning platform. However, these technological and curricular measures do not immediately resolve the core issue of teacher shortages highlighted by the union [1].

The union warns about the consequences of the teacher shortage on the quality of school education as a whole. They emphasize an urgent need for thousands more teachers to ensure full lesson coverage and quality education in Saxony [1]. The Minister of Culture, Conrad Clemens, commented that the hiring results show how attractive the teaching profession is and how competitive the offer in Saxony is [1].

In a bid to address the issues, GEW Saxony calls for a dialogue with the Ministry of Culture, parents, and students to discuss and address the current challenges in education policy [1]. The crisis can only be overcome together, according to GEW Saxony [1].

[1] Source: GEW Saxony press release, August 2022.

  1. The union, GEW Saxony, has expressed concerns about the current education policy in Saxony, arguing that it is facing criticism due to the persisting teacher shortage and 21 measures introduced by the Ministry of Culture, which they believe are worsening the quality of schools.
  2. GEW Saxony demands a realignment of education policy, including targeted incentives for rural areas, secondary schools, and special schools, and an education package that centers on quality and justice, as they believe the current budget decisions are exacerbating the tense situation caused by the teacher shortage.

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