The debate about the right strategy to remedy the shortage of teachers is entering the next round in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The reason for this is the latest recommendations of the Standing Scientific Commission of the Conference of Ministers of Education. On Friday, the panel of experts assessed the situation as dramatic and, among other things, proposed increasing the teaching workload for educators and noticeably reducing the opportunities for part-time employment in order to ensure the provision of lessons.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Minister of Education, Simone Oldenburg (left), announced that the proposals would be examined, which certainly opened up prospects for improving the staffing situation in schools. But at the same time she made it clear where she sees the limits. “One thing is certain: there will be no increase in the teaching obligation, no restrictions on part-time regulations and no larger classes,” she emphasized. A worsening of the teaching and working conditions leads in the long run to an even greater shortage of teachers and thus to an increase in the learning deficits of the pupils.
On Tuesday, the state association of the GEW education union in Schwerin wants to comment on the staffing situation in the state’s schools and on the proposals of the expert commission. Prior to this, however, the GEW state chairman, Nico Leschinski, made it clear that he firmly relied on the Minister of Education’s promise not to touch either part-time work or the perks for older teachers. “In addition, a reduction in the number of compulsory hours remains a declared goal for us as a trade union, which we are also negotiating in the education pact,” emphasized Leschinski.
The prospects for this are rather poor in view of the high need for personnel and the growing need for it due to the wave of retirements that is already beginning. Only on Wednesday did the government factions of the SPD and the left in the state parliament reject a CDU application to gradually reduce the comparatively high number of compulsory hours by up to two school hours per week. “980 additional full-time employees would be needed to implement this proposal. And they simply don’t exist,” Oldenburg explained. With up to 27.5 hours per week, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is one of the federal states with the highest teaching commitments for teachers.
The CDU member of parliament Torsten Renz criticized the rejection of his proposal. “The overloading of teachers in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania would have come to an end after almost 20 years. With a direct impact on the attractiveness of the teaching profession and the quality of teaching in MV,” said the opposition politician. He called on Oldenburg to follow up their findings with action.
In the state parliament debate, the minister referred to a number of changes that had already been made, with which the state had increased the attractiveness of the teaching profession. These included the civil servant status for young educators, additional credit hours for older teachers, better pay for primary school teachers or simplified recruitment procedures. According to Oldenburg, by 2030 around 7,000 of the current 12,000 or so teachers will retire from teaching in the state. Replacing them is a major challenge due to demographic developments and the nationwide shortage of teachers.
Teacher Age Statistics MV Teacher Recruitment
