A shortage of staff is noticeable in the kindergartens, after-school care centers and crèches in Upper Austria. This is shown by an OÖN broadcast from the Association of Towns and Municipalities. In the labor market, it is becoming increasingly difficult for municipalities to “recruit” elementary education teachers.
As reported, the city of Traun has chosen an unconventional measure to close staff gaps. In the coming weeks, retired kindergarten teachers and helpers will receive a letter asking them to return on a minor basis.
According to the Association of Municipalities and Towns, the main reason for the shortage of staff is that only around 25 to 30 percent of graduates of the educational institutions for elementary education (BAfEP, until 2016 BAKIP) start working immediately after graduation. The vast majority start studying or “do something else”.
He also knows individual communities where attempts are being made to bring retirees back to compensate for long-term sick leave, says community association president Hans Hingsamer (VP).
In Linz, Wels and Steyr there is “not a situation that is as acute” as in Traun, “but nobody is having an easy time of it at the moment,” says the President of the Association of Towns and Mayor of Linz, Klaus Luger (SP). In individual institutions, the personnel situation is tight. “If there are further failures due to Corona, we are quickly in crisis mode,” says Luger. In addition, the vaccination rate among staff is “below average”.
Higher pay is “not a solution” because there is a trend among young people to graduate from university. It would be better to promote special training measures for women returning from other professions, says Luger. (staro / jp)
Source: Nachrichten
