Teacher Shortages in Bavaria and Saxony Prompt Controversial Measures
Education officials in both states propose increasing teaching hours for part-time and senior teachers to address staffing gaps and reduce missed classes.
- Bavaria's education ministry is urging part-time teachers to increase their hours as part of a new plan to alleviate teacher shortages in middle and high schools.
- Saxon Education Minister Conrad Clemens has proposed 21 measures to reduce missed classes, including removing reduced teaching hours for senior and specialized teachers.
- In Bavaria, optional courses may be cut to ensure mandatory subjects like English are prioritized, sparking concerns among parents about larger class sizes.
- In Saxony, nearly 10% of classes were missed in the first semester of the 2024/25 school year due to a shortfall of 1,400 teachers, prompting urgent interventions.
- Teacher unions in both states have expressed resistance to these proposals, citing overwork and existing burdens on educators, while officials emphasize the necessity of these measures to improve education quality.
Neues Deutschland 
Sächsische Zeitung 
Augsburger Allgemeine 