Overview

• Saxony’s Kultusminister Conrad Clemens has introduced a 21-measure package aimed at halving lost teaching hours, which includes delaying workload reductions for older teachers and reallocating duties across school types.
• Educators in Saxony strongly oppose the measures, arguing they will increase stress and drive more teachers into early retirement or part-time roles, further exacerbating the crisis.
• In Brandenburg, Ministerpräsident Dietmar Woidke defends plans to require teachers to work an additional hour per week, aligning with Berlin, while promising task reductions to offset the change.
• Critics in Brandenburg warn that the increased workload, paired with financial constraints and a recently reversed hiring freeze, may deter new teachers and worsen classroom conditions.
• Both states face structural challenges, including an aging workforce, insufficient teacher training, and growing student numbers, prompting calls for systemic reforms like streamlined curricula and enhanced teacher support.