A greater need had been expected in recent years – but the situation had been exacerbated by earlier retirements during the Corona period and the need for workers in other sectors, according to Polaschek to the APA. Training, framework conditions and employment law are therefore currently under scrutiny.
Other countries like Germany would also struggle with the same problem. “During the pandemic, more teachers said they would stop earlier,” said Polaschek. “And more graduate teachers have accepted job offers in other areas. The market sucked a lot from there.”
Problem solver career changers?
In the short term, attempts are therefore being made not only to students but also to lateral entrants, i.e. people who have not completed a teaching degree but have completed a related subject and are suitably qualified. They first have to pass an assessment center and take appropriate training courses at the same time.
Polaschek estimates that around 200 to 300 people could be recruited as career changers each year. “It’s an important addition. But it’s not like we’re going to solve the problem on our own.”
They are therefore working on an image of the teacher of the future, with which the profession should become more attractive. In addition, the range of courses is being put to the test – recently there have been repeated calls for the training to be shortened. “In the next few weeks, two evaluations will be available – on the one hand the teacher training by the Quality Assurance Council and on the other hand the situation of the young teachers.” The necessary discussions will then be held with universities and teacher training colleges.
Conditions changed
At present, graduates can teach at schools after four years of bachelor’s degree. You then go through a one-year induction phase and must complete the at least one-year master’s degree within a maximum of five years while working. If they don’t, they no longer meet the employment requirements.
In the meantime, the conditions have changed here, according to Polaschek. “The starting point was clearly the assumption that the teacher training course is designed as a complete course of study with a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Students should do a bachelor’s degree in the classic way, then teach a few hours a week at the school and also study part-time for a master’s degree – with a focus on studies. Now that has changed due to the shortage of teachers. They have to teach earlier and more often in some subjects. As a result, they come to study less.” Therefore, one must now look at whether to change the curriculum or turn to the service law.
Polaschek defends new subjects
Polaschek defended the introduction of additional subjects such as ethics or digital basic education in times of teacher shortages. The greatest need is in subjects such as German, mathematics, English and the natural sciences, while there are enough teachers for ethics, for example. The lack of elementary school teachers also has nothing to do with ethics lessons in the upper grades.
One would like to fight the shortage of teachers indirectly by freeing the educators from additional tasks. According to Polaschek, the education departments were instructed to cut back on unnecessary administrative work as early as spring. For example, reporting obligations have been scaled back and we are currently looking at what relief is still possible. The professional representation was also asked for suggestions. The AMS project for hiring administrative staff, which had previously been limited in time, was also given an unlimited period of time – it could be increased from 400 to 700 people, and at the same time work was being done on expanding the support staff, such as social workers.
There will be no major changes in the Matura, says Polaschek. . This should continue to take place verbally for everyone. “The system has proven itself.”
Source: Nachrichten
