Dresden – Despite persistent criticism from teachers’ associations and loud complaints about overwork, Saxony’s Education Minister Conrad Clemens is continuing his crackdown – and appears to be getting rewarded. For the first time in ten years, fewer lessons were canceled in the Free State.
“A reversal of the trend has occurred! More teachers, fewer absences – and this happens as student numbers increase,” Clemens said on Tuesday in Dresden.
Success through consistency
Action packagewhich was started by Clemens’ predecessor, Christian Piwarz (50, CDU) and continued consistently, had the following effects: delegation, simplifying German language classes for Immigrantthe removal of mitigation lessons – all points that have been sharply criticized by teachers’ associations for months.
▶ Now it looks: it works!
Scheduled lesson cancellations fell (compared to the previous year) in August from 3.6 to 3.1 percent and in September from 3.7 to 3.2 percent. The greatest progress occurred in secondary schools – from 8 to 5.8 percent in August, from 7.8 to 5.8 percent in September. “Our schools benefit from these assignments – although in some cases they are difficult to do,” Clemens said. “We will continue on this path.”
Clemens wants to reduce part-time rights
But according to Clemens, the number of Saxon teachers working part-time has recently increased – from 90.4 to 90.9 percent. As a countermeasure, the Minister now wants to drastically reduce part-time entitlements for teachers with children:
▶ “I very much appreciate Bavaria’s proposal to reduce the age requirement from 18 to 14.” This means that only teachers are entitled to work part-time until their children are 14 years old, and not, as is the case currently, until they are 18 years old. However, to achieve this, Saxon civil service law had to be changed.
Clemens handled it no friends in the union did it, he knew CDU-Man. The Saxon Teachers’ Association (SLV) also accused the minister of a “cover-up”: the “turnaround” was simply a redistribution as teachers from primary schools were seconded to secondary schools, according to SLV boss Michael Jung.
These are the numbers
Schools in Saxony hired 1,533.7 full-time teachers this year – more than the number of teachers who retired. Over ten years, more teachers were gained than lost. Currently there are still 1,145 missing, but the trend is clearly heading in the right direction.
A total of 440,414 children and young people are currently studying in schools in Saxony – around 1,276 more than the previous year.
Primary schools are shrinking, the need for support is increasing
While middle and high schools continue to grow, elementary schools are shrinking. In addition, 300 new students from all over the world come every month, which is a lot without knowledge of German.
Clemens: “It was a small high school that every month we had to integrate into the system – but we are now integrating these kids better.”
And: Funding needs are increasing. More children in Saxony need additional support: 7.2 per cent of all pupils are now deemed to need support – an increase of eight per cent. “We have too few special education teachers,” the minister said. “This must also be reflected in training.”
