Brandenburg Considers Adding Teaching Hour as Budget Strains Mount

The SPD/BSW coalition's proposal to increase mandatory teaching hours faces backlash from unions and opposition, with no final decision yet announced.

The SPD/BSW coalition proposes increasing teachers' mandatory weekly teaching hours by one hour to address financial constraints and match Berlin's standards.
The coalition claims the total workload will not rise, as bureaucratic tasks will be reduced to offset the additional teaching hour.
Unions, educators, and opposition parties criticize the proposal, warning it could worsen teacher shortages and increase workload pressures.
The Brandenburg Ministry of Education has not commented on the proposal's status ahead of the cabinet's budget decision.
Brandenburg's 2025-2026 budget faces significant cuts and new debt, intensifying debates on education funding and teacher workload.