Dresden (dpa / sn) – Minister of Education Christian Piwarz (CDU) wants to exhaust all capacities in view of the shortage of teachers and the associated cancellation of classes in Saxony’s schools. The fact that, despite all efforts, positions remained vacant across the country and especially in rural areas, shows that there is not a lack of money or jobs, but also of applicants, he said in the state parliament on Wednesday. Therefore, it is important to optimally use and exploit the existing working power of the teachers.
According to Piwarz, 500 pregnant women are currently unable to teach because of the corona regulations. 150 teachers dropped out because they belonged to a risk group. This cannot be compensated for, flexible solutions have to be found in the schools.
The minister also sees potential in lateral entrants and the recognition of foreign qualifications. In addition, the high proportion of part-time work must be discussed. Nationwide, 10,000 teachers, “almost one in three”, did not work full hours. That is a potential of a total of 2500 full-time positions.
The left had requested the education debate. Meanwhile, around 700 people, including teachers, parents and educators, protested in front of Parliament for better care conditions in day-care centers and schools. “The situation in schools is shocking in many places,” said left education politician Luise Neuhaus-Wartenberg in parliament. She accused the government of “sporadically filling in gaps, paying lip service and ignoring developments for many years” and warned against further “tinkering”.
Teachers’ associations and GEW had called for the demonstration. They see the education system “on the verge of collapse” and call for more human resources and relief measures for employees in schools and daycare centers.
