Overview

• An RND survey of 16 state education ministries found 1,270 of 25,758 principal posts vacant nationwide, about 5 percent of all schools
• North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia report the highest vacancy rates at 8.7 percent and 8.8 percent respectively, while Bavaria has the lowest at around 1 percent
• Hamburg has not yet released its data on unfilled principals and expects to report figures in September
• Deputy heads, other teachers or neighboring school principals are stepping in to cover leadership duties at schools without appointed heads
• State ministries are urging faster appointment processes to safeguard student outcomes, teacher morale and overall school stability