536,000 pupils start the new school year in Saxony

Holidays over: After the summer vacation weeks in Saxony, 536,000 pupils at state and independent schools are back in the classroom. "I wish our pupils a good start and I am sure that they will be able to achieve their goals and good intentions in the new school year," said Saxony's Minister of Education Christian Piwarz (CDU). The start of school is particularly exciting for the 40,500 or so children starting school.

According to the ministry's provisional figures, 18,289 more pupils are attending school in the new school year than in the previous school year. Accordingly, the largest increase, with around 452,750 pupils (previous year: 436,180), was at state schools. The number of pupils at independent schools also increased slightly - from 81,531 to around 83,290.

Teacher shortage remains a challenge

The minister pointed out that the Saxon education system offers many different paths to learning success, be it via secondary schools, grammar schools or community schools. However, despite the recruitment of more than 1,000 new teachers at the start of the new school year, there is still a shortage of teachers, particularly at upper secondary schools and special schools. According to Piwarz, securing teaching remains a challenge.

According to him, 1,033 people have been recruited so far, mainly at grammar schools and elementary school. 773 of them are trained teachers, 120 are educational assistants at special schools, although they do not replace special school teachers. In addition, 140 lateral entrants will start teaching after the vacations following their qualification.

Fugee children waiting for school places

According to the Saxon Child Protection Association, more than 1600 refugee children and young people are currently waiting for a school place. This situation contradicts the fundamental principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Basic Law and current school law. "All children have a right to education and participation. However, some refugee children have to wait up to a year for a school place," criticized Silke Brewig-Lange, Chair of the Board. This massively restricts their educational opportunities and thus their chances of participation.