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3d ago

Teacher Shortage Forces Surge in Unqualified Hires in German Schools

Unqualified teachers now account for more than 20% of Brandenburg’s school staff under efforts to preserve lesson coverage.

Schülerinnen einer sechsten Klasse melden sich in einem Klassenraum in Schrobenhausen (Bayern).
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Overview

  • Nationally, 10.5% of teachers at general education schools and 16.6% at vocational schools lacked formal teaching qualifications in 2023/24, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
  • Brandenburg’s share of unqualified teachers climbed from 17.7% to 20.3% in 2024/25 as 4,500 side-entrants fill vacancies.
  • Education Minister Steffen Freiberg will preserve current lesson coverage despite cutting 345 teaching positions by assigning teachers an extra weekly hour.
  • Saxony-Anhalt is adding 200 “pädagogische Unterrichtshilfen” roles to support classroom instruction and relieve qualified teachers.
  • The Conference of Education Ministers has eased training requirements and forecasts a shortfall of 49,000 qualified teachers by 2035, prompting experts to call for uniform quality standards for side-entry hires.