Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) - The SPD parliamentary group in the Hessian state parliament expects a dramatic shortage of teachers in the coming school year. The state government is relying on "lay teachers who teach with chain contracts for up to five years without being qualified for it," criticized education expert Christoph Degen on Friday. "Well-trained teachers are crucial in order to control the learning processes of students and to ensure equal educational opportunities."
The new school year starts next Monday in Hesse. The Education and Training Association (VBE) Hessen expects, according to its own information, around 2,000 vacant teaching positions in the coming school year. "The situation is tense everywhere. But in the Rhine-Main area the situation has to be described as dramatic," said state chairman Stefan Wesselmann.
The deputy chairwoman of the Education and Science Union (GEW) Hessen, Heike Ackermann, said: "There is still a lack of teachers at primary schools, special needs schools and vocational schools. In addition, there are numerous shortage subjects at all secondary schools, especially in the MINT area and in the musical subjects."
Hesse is also not making any progress with the expansion of all-day schools, explained SPD MP Degen. The state finances the offers so meagerly that it depends on the parents' wallets who and whether the whole day is used at all. From 2026 there will be a legal entitlement to an all-day childcare place for primary school children.
The spokeswoman for education policy for the left-wing faction, Elisabeth Kula, complained, among other things, about dilapidated school buildings, a massive drop in classes and a high level of sickness in the schools. In addition, it is unclear how the operation of the schools in winter is to be ensured in view of the impending gas shortage. Moritz Promny, education policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, explained: "The minister must give priority to ensuring adequate teaching staff and the digitization of schools instead of romping about in secondary areas."
