Teacher Shortages Lead to Significant Class Disruptions in Germany

Saxony and the Southwest face severe teaching shortages, affecting millions of school hours and prompting urgent calls for action.

Approximately 1.7 million teaching hours were missed in Saxony during the last school year, marking a new high due to a shortage of 1,100 teachers.
Saxony's schools, especially secondary and special education institutions, are experiencing the most significant disruptions, with some schools unable to conduct up to 35% of classes.
In the Southwest, nearly 50% of schools reported teaching disruptions within the first three weeks of the new school year due to insufficient staffing.
Despite some improvements in teacher staffing compared to previous years, special education schools in the Southwest remain critically understaffed.
Education officials stress the need for increased recruitment and training of teachers to address ongoing shortages and improve educational outcomes.