An intensive school year: teacher shortages, suspensions and overtime

When the school bells ring in Upper Austria on Friday to mark the start of the summer holidays, middle school teacher Christian Rößner will look back on the past school year with joy and gratitude. “On the one hand, I am happy that we survived a really challenging year, and on the other hand, I am very grateful that I am able to do this great job,” says the 51-year-old.

Rößner is one of 112 career changers in Upper Austria. The trained bookseller, German studies graduate and former management consultant ended up at MS Münichholz in Steyr four years ago. Even though a large proportion of the young people there come from difficult social backgrounds, Rößner has never regretted his decision: “Of course there are evenings when I think to myself why I’m doing this. But the students are not lost, you can achieve a lot with them.”

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