The trade union for education and science (GEW) holds the government responsible for the deterioration in teaching provision in Saxony. "Anyone who has been responsible for schools in Saxony for 35 years without foresight, without a personnel development concept and always under the primacy of cost savings should not be surprised if this has negative consequences," said deputy state chair Claudia Maaß.
In the current school year, only around 95 percent of the planned lessons are covered according to the Ministry of Education. The situation is particularly precarious at secondary schools with 89.5 percent and special schools with 88.8 percent. There is a shortfall of almost 1,400 teachers - around 300 more than in 2023/2024.
Maaß: "Teaching shortfall across the board"
"The figures prove it: The endless spiral towards the threat of educational poverty in Saxony is taking the next turn," said Maaß. The gap between the demand for teachers and those actually employed is widening. "Teaching absenteeism is the order of the day across the board in all types of schools." She is calling on the government to draw up reliable plans for the educational success of pupils.
The union also criticized the ministry's reference to the decline in the working capacity of teaching staff, which means that the equivalent of 2,900 full-time positions will be lost. Part-time employees and older people were being used as scapegoats for the catastrophic supply of teaching staff, said Maaß. This further contributes to the demotivation of employees.
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