The scientists fear that there will be a long shortage of staff at the approximately 40,000 schools in the country and speak of a historic challenge for society. “The problem of teacher shortages is likely to persist for the next 20 years.”
the initial situation
- In the foreseeable future, there will be significantly fewer trained teachers than are needed in view of the development in student numbers and retirements. “Significant waves of retirement are offset by small birth cohorts from which student teachers can be recruited,” says the statement. According to calculations by the KMK, the gap between the demand for and supply of teachers between 2021 and 2035 is around 1,600 each year on average. In total, well over 20,000. More pessimistic forecasts assume fourfold. More than 12,000 teaching positions are currently vacant, according to a survey by the editorial network Germany (RND) in the federal states.
- There are more than 10 million schoolchildren in Germany. Since the Russian invasion of the neighboring country, 200,000 children and young people who fled Ukraine have arrived, further increasing the challenges at schools.
- The personnel situation is not equally bad everywhere: there are regional differences and also depending on the type of school and subject. Overall, there is an oversupply of grammar school teachers, while a particular shortage of vocational schools and in the middle school is expected throughout. According to forecasts, the situation at elementary schools will ease from the mid-20s. Above all, there is a lack of math, chemistry, physics, music, art, English and computer science teachers.
- The shortage of teachers threatens to further exacerbate existing problems in the education system. Example primary school children: As surveys had shown, they increasingly have math and German problems. Closing the gaps in later school careers becomes more and more difficult as the shortage of staff increases.
What the expert commission proposes, among other things
- Almost half of the teachers work part-time. The Commission proposes to limit the possibilities for this. “Here lies the largest employment reserve.”
- A temporary increase in the teaching quota per week for teachers with financial compensation or compensation through less working hours in later years should be examined.
- Incentives are recommended to encourage older teachers to come out of retirement or work beyond the age limit.
- Classes should be enlarged where specified maximum or orientation values are undercut. In the middle school, a temporary increase in the maximum class size as a “last resort” should not be ruled out.
- The scientists are in favor of easier recognition of foreign teachers’ qualifications, incentives for temporary employment at other schools where there is a shortage of staff and additional use of non-teaching staff in administration, IT or libraries to relieve teachers.
- According to the commission, hybrid teaching should be tested in upper secondary school classes. For example, a teacher could teach in one class and another class – also from a different school – is connected.
- More offers for health care for teachers are also proposed – such as coaching, supervision or mindfulness training.
The Commission writes that it is aware that its proposals “impose an additional burden on teachers”. “Therefore, the measures proposed here must be limited in time,” it says. But the scientists also warn that all those involved in the school system must be aware that society is facing a historical challenge that requires great effort.
The reactions:
The Commission’s warning probably came in anticipation of the expected reactions from the education and teachers’ unions. They turn out to be very critical.
