Education package causes discontent - GEW announces protests

The Trade Union for Education and Science (GEW) has criticized the package of measures introduced by the Saxon Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs to reduce teaching absenteeism. In an interview with the "Leipziger Volkszeitung" and the "Sächsische Zeitung" (Friday), the GEW state chairman, Burkhard Naumann, said that the planned reduction in age reductions, which previously granted older teachers a reduced teaching commitment, was particularly controversial. He spoke of "a serious attack on teachers in Saxony".

Cutting the age reduction as a core measure

The Saxon Ministry of Culture wants to improve school teaching with a bundle of measures. The reason for this is the high number of hours lost, 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.

GEW sees a heavy burden on teachers

According to Naumann, the measure particularly affects older teachers who have already suffered disadvantages in the past, for example due to a lack of opportunities for promotion. The Ministry of Culture justified the decision by stating that previous reductions had not prevented 90 percent of teachers from retiring early. Naumann sharply criticized this approach: "It's all about the numbers. The fact that this is about people, about a highly stressed professional group, about children who want good teaching, is being completely ignored."

Instead, Naumann proposes a reduction in the timetable and the abolition of profile teaching at grammar schools in order to relieve the burden on teachers. "This would free up resources that could be used in regular lessons, according to our calculations around 120 full-time positions." He also called for incentives such as flexi-retirement or reduced teaching hours for older teachers so that they can work longer.

Protests planned against the measures

The union announced protests and talks with education policy stakeholders. "We have also approached the teachers' associations," said Naumann. It is crucial that "all those involved in schools now think together about how to make adjustments".