Saxony Introduces Controversial Measures to Address Teacher Shortage

New reforms by the Kultusminister aim to halve missed school hours, but face backlash from educators and unions.

Saxony's Kultusminister Conrad Clemens has proposed 21 measures to reduce the state's significant rate of missed school hours, which currently affects nearly 10% of scheduled classes.
Key reforms include delaying age-based reductions in teaching hours for older educators, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from teacher unions and advocacy groups.
The reforms aim to reallocate work hours from administrative and non-teaching tasks back into classroom instruction, potentially adding the equivalent of 790 full-time teaching positions by the 2025/26 school year.
Critics argue the measures could exacerbate teacher burnout and demotivation, particularly among older staff, who already face demanding workloads.
Supporters, including some parents, highlight the urgency of addressing the state's chronic teacher shortage, which has left over 1,400 positions unfilled this school year.