Teacher recruitment surge of 1,100 in Saxony's schools; Education Minister voices approval, GEW interprets it as a call to order
In the Free State of Saxony, concerns about teacher shortages and education budget cuts have been a hot topic of discussion between the GEW Saxony union and Minister of Culture Conrad Clemens. Last school year, around 9% of lessons were cancelled due to the teacher shortage, and the GEW Saxony union estimates that more than 4,000 additional teachers are needed to fully cover lesson plans and supplementary teaching.
Minister Clemens expresses optimism that lesson cancellations will be substantially reduced in the new school year. However, skepticism remains within the educational trade union due to the scale of the shortage.
The Ministry has made recruitment efforts, hiring over 1,000 new teachers for the new school year. This includes 885 fully qualified teachers and 229 lateral entrants who were recently trained, resulting in a staff increase of 438 compared to the previous year. The new hires represent 438.5 full-time equivalents (FTEs) more in the Saxon school system than in 2024/2025.
Despite these efforts, the shortage in teachers continues to create pressure on lesson coverage and raises concerns about the quality of education under budget constraints. Many education employees in Saxony have been given temporary contracts instead of permanent ones, damaging trust and preventing long-term support.
Moreover, support and training for student teachers in Saxony are being reduced, leading to more dropouts and lower quality in teacher training. The situation is further exacerbated by the Ministry's "21 measures," which systematically overload teachers with cuts in credit hours, age-related adjustments, subject-specific advice, and the threat of additional make-up hours and widespread assignments.
The GEW Saxony union demands a real reorientation of education policy, including targeted incentives for rural areas, secondary schools, and special schools, and an education package that prioritizes quality and justice. They call for the Ministry of Culture to sit down with trade unions, parents, and students to address the crisis in education.
As the new school year begins on August 11th, with approximately 534,000 students starting their education, the core concern remains the severe teacher shortage and the struggle to adequately cover lessons amid a growing pupil population, despite recruitment efforts and reforms. The underlying pressures on the education budget are voiced indirectly through union warnings and cautious governmental optimism.
[1] References: [Link to the original source if available]
- The GEW Saxony union is concerned that the ongoing teacher shortage in the education system, despite recruitment efforts by the Ministry, could negatively impact the quality of education due to budget constraints and insufficient personnel.
- Despite the political discussions and reforms regarding education and self-development, increasing concerns about the teacher shortage in Saxony's schools persist, with potential implications for politics and general news.
