GEW calls for protest against education package

The Education and Science Union (GEW) is calling for a Saxony-wide protest against the Ministry of Education's education package. "The package of measures will have a massive impact on everyday school life and lead to an increase in workload while simultaneously reducing the quality of education," the GEW announced.

GEW demands reversal of the measures

From April 8 to 10, demonstrations are planned in the afternoon in Leipzig, then Chemnitz and finally Dresden. All teachers, parents, pupils and citizens in Saxony are called upon to take part.

The GEW is calling on the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs to withdraw the announced measures, said Burkhard Naumann, Chairman of GEW Saxony. Schools are already under enormous pressure and the proposed measures would exacerbate the already tense situation.

Package of measures to safeguard teaching

The Saxon Ministry of Education wants to improve school teaching with a package of measures. The reason for this is the high number of missed lessons, particularly in secondary schools.

Among other things, older teachers are to work more hours than before. In order to use teachers' manpower more efficiently, previous regulations such as the so-called age reduction are to be changed. Until now, teachers aged 58 and over have been exempted from working one hour per week, two hours per week from the age of 60 and three hours per week from the age of 61. In future, this regulation will only apply from the age of 63.

The crediting of hours for certain functions is also to be changed. In addition, future teachers should be able to participate more in everyday school life while still studying. According to the ministry, there is a shortage of 1,400 full-time teachers in Bavaria.

Naumann described the cuts to the age reduction as a "fatal signal to older teachers". "We are calling for a real improvement in working conditions and not short-term emergency solutions at the expense of teachers and the quality of education," said Naumann.