Brandenburg's Temporary Teacher Hiring Freeze Draws Widespread Backlash

The freeze, implemented during budget negotiations, intensifies concerns over severe staffing shortages and educational disruptions in the region.

Brandenburg's Ministry of Education has implemented a temporary hiring freeze for teachers as part of ongoing budget negotiations, citing the need to reassess staffing needs.
Teacher unions, parents, and opposition parties have criticized the freeze, warning it exacerbates existing shortages and leads to significant class cancellations.
The SPD/BSW coalition's 2025-2026 budget proposal does not include additional full-time teaching positions, further fueling concerns about long-term educational outcomes.
The government has proposed increasing teachers' weekly teaching hours and reducing bureaucratic tasks, but educators argue these measures add to their already heavy workloads.
Critics highlight the disproportionate impact of the freeze on rural schools and report that some students are unable to read properly by fifth grade due to prolonged teaching gaps.