Alleviating the Teacher Shortage at Selected Secondary and Comprehensive Schools with Educational Support Staff
Reducing classroom disruptions through the use of instructional tools. - Streamlining Tools to Minimize Work Interruptions
Here's some good news for students in Saxony-Anhalt: The local government is rolling out a plan to hire 200 additional support staff to help combat the teacher shortage. These reinforcements will be deployed at secondary, comprehensive, and comprehensive schools across the region, starting this fall.
The new team will fall under an intermediate category between teachers and pedagogical employees, dubbed 'pedagogical teaching assistants'. Education Minister Eva Feussner (CDU) explains, "We're looking for pedagogical teaching assistants. These individuals will aid and participate in subject teaching, spending 60% of their time in the classroom and the remaining 40% on assisting tasks." Each school should aim to onboard at least one assistant. Applications will be accepted until June 20th.
The teaching supply at secondary schools is especially strained compared to primary and grammar schools, currently registering at 87.6%. The overall teaching supply for all school types combined is 94.5%. The teaching supply metric gauges how much of the curriculum's required teaching can be covered. The coalition's goal was 103%, providing a buffer for absences due to illness, parental leave, or continued education.
Minister Feussner believes that teachers ought to focus on their primary duties, and these assistants will help by relieving them of other responsibilities and minimizing class cancellations. The amendment to the School Act, due for approval by the state parliament, will create the new role of 'pedagogical teaching assistants' and afford them the same organizational and legal standing as teachers.
Pedagogical teaching assistants can be utilized in various roles, such as supervision when teachers delegate tasks for temporary replacement. According to Feussner, "It depends on their specific skills. But they won't be teaching advanced math tomorrow. Our goal isn't for them to take over instructional duties." Their portfolios also encompass school organization, complementing lessons in practical learning environments, and accompanying school trips. Feussner emphasizes, "There are numerous employment options."
Prospective hires must boast at least three years of relevant pedagogical experience and should be external candidates not currently employed in the state school service. The funding for these positions will come from budget savings due to vacant teacher positions, as explained by Feussner.
Although some criticism has been raised – the Left parliamentary group's education expert, Thomas Lippmann, claims the new role is merely a temporary fix – the overall sentiment is optimistic. Feussner remains confident that they'll garner plenty of applicants, drawing from the strong response to their previous job advertisement for pedagogical employees.
- To ensure personal growth and learning opportunities for all, the community has implemented a policy that includes vocational training for the newly created role of pedagogical teaching assistants, aiming to alleviate the teacher shortage in education-and-self-development.
- As part of their duties, pedagogical teaching assistants will participate in subject teaching, undergo vocational training, and engage in various roles for the enhancement of students' practical learning environments, fostering continued personal growth and self-development.
