Waves of illness and chronic staff shortages are currently making it difficult for teachers and students.Image: pexels / rodnae productions
Germany
The situation in the schools is still poor: waves of illness are sweeping through the classrooms. Pupils as well as teaching staff – all of them drop out again and again. In some regions of the republic, the situation before the Christmas holidays was so dramatic that classes had to be combined.
An enormous burden for students and families. But also for the teachers, as Maike Finnern, Chairwoman of the Education and Science Union (GEW), explains when asked by Watson. She says:
“There were cases where children sat alone in class because all their classmates were absent, lessons were canceled because teachers were ill to an extent that was previously unknown. Several different substitution plans were the norm every day. Most teachers love their job and give their best, the same goes for school leaders. But they work under very high pressures.”
Maike Finnern is the chairwoman of the GEW. One thing is clear to her: things can’t go on like this. Image: dpa / Sebastian Willnow
Teacher shortages remain a problem
Finnern clarifies that the tense situation is exacerbated by the chronic shortage of teachers. The schools are working to the limit and are waiting for more support from the politics instructed, says the trade unionist. But there’s not much coming. She says: “The education sector has been worn out for years – now it’s taking its revenge once more.”
For Finns it is clear: In order to change something about the staff shortage, the working conditions in schools must be improved. The trade union boss knows exactly what the teachers need from discussions:
- More time and smaller classes for more intensive pedagogical work.
- Multi-professional teams in which teachers, social workers, social pedagogues and educators work closely together.
- Relief for non-pedagogical tasks, such as administrative work
- Building a digital infrastructure
- More study and traineeship places
Gerhard Brand, chairman of the VBE, calls for less bureaucracy and more funding.Image: dpa / Bernd Weißbrod
Gerhard Brand shares these demands. He is the chairman of the Education and Training Association (VBE). The greatest challenges for politicians are the lack of staff and the chronic underfunding of the education system, he says. Smart investments and networked funding are needed.
When asked by watson, Brand says:
“No more paying from one subsidy pot and only that from the other – and ideally having to submit two or more applications, which are then processed and approved by different people at different times.”
Better staffing could help in the future to cushion waves of infection, as is currently the case. In addition to the planned jobs, planned buffers are also needed, says Brand. He says: “Illness, pregnancy, parental leave or the need for individual support justify this.”
With training offensives against the shortage of staff
The Ministers of Education of the federal states also know that something has to change in terms of education. In Saxony, for example, an action program worth 1.7 billion euros was launched in 2018. According to the ministry, this is intended to counteract the shortage of teachers.
This program included, among other things, the appointment of teachers and the increase in study capacities. For trainee teachers who voluntarily go to a village school, there is also a 1000 euro salary bonus. At least if they commit to staying in regions in need for a few years after completing their training. In addition, lateral entrants would be hired.
Teachers are rare, especially in elementary school.Image: dpa / Arne Dedert
Nevertheless, it is not unusual for the situation in schools to be tense, especially in autumn and winter, according to the ministry. In such cases, however, the schools would have the opportunity to decide for themselves how to organize the lessons. For example, by merging classes or sending home classes.
There are fewer problems in Rhineland-Palatinate. At least that’s what the Ministry of Education thinks when asked by Watson. In recent years, it has always been possible to fill the permanent positions with trained teachers. The special feature of the current school year is that additional positions had to be created for the integration of Ukrainian refugees.
Lateral entry as a short-term solution
In order not to face personnel problems in the future either, Rhineland-Palatinate has “taken a number of measures” to convince more young people to take up teacher training. The ministry says that, among other things, the number of training places has been increased. In addition, the salary has increased. Unlike in other federal states, civil servants are still the rule in Rhineland-Palatinate.
As in Saxony, the south-western state also relies on career changers and lateral entrants. For example, teachers who actually teach at high school could also switch to elementary schools or secondary schools. But even people who have not completed a teaching degree can switch to teaching with a 24-month training course – and even become civil servants.
Dorothee Feller (CDU) is Minister of Education for North Rhine-Westphalia.Image: IMAGO/Rüdiger Wölk
In North Rhine-Westphalia, too, the future will be about getting more people excited about working with schoolchildren. For this reason, School Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU) has launched an action plan. Included: More study places, easier teaching qualifications for professionals from third countries, students should be allowed to teach independently.
However, it is not enough just to get more people into the teaching profession – work also needs to be done on appreciation. The minister proposes a higher salary for this. But also a relief from paperwork and working with everyday helpers. In the future, they should help the teaching staff to cope with everyday routines. So in the preparation and follow-up of the lesson and the organization.
An offensive with which the state wants to attract more teachers has also been going on in Lower Saxony since last summer. On the one hand, according to the Ministry of Education, the clerkship has been changed. Practical training after graduation is now more about actual teaching and less about written work. The change from grammar school teaching post to secondary and secondary school and also to elementary schools has also been made easier.
In the future, Lower Saxony wants to focus more on practice than on written exams when it comes to traineeships.Image: pexels / yan krukau
But not only the change within the school types is possible, lateral entrants are also welcome in the northern German state. Teachers who have only completed a bachelor’s degree should now be given the opportunity to earn their master’s degree part-time. And even people who did not have any pedagogical content during their studies should be able to gain further qualifications.
Lower Saxony also wants to offer more teaching positions. However, since the shortage of teachers is a problem throughout Germany, there are currently considerations to run a joint advertising campaign for career choices. Although education is a matter for the federal states, one could also work together without giving up competencies.
The Ministry of Education in Lower Saxony also states that any supporting measure would be welcomed by the federal government. For example, the “Digital Pact for Schools”, which promotes digital equipment in schools.
Many of the problems that teachers and their unions complain about are also known to political decision-makers. However, the training offensives must now take effect and the measures intended to make the teaching profession more attractive must be implemented. Then there should be relief in the future.
