Jürgen Heiss, state chairman of the Bavarian Association of School Supervisory and School Boards, warns of staff shortages in primary and secondary schools this fall.
District
– In a public fire letter, Jürgen Heiss, as state chairman of the Bavarian Association of School Supervisory and School Boards, addressed the Minister of Education Michael Piazolo and Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder.
In it, Heiss clearly warns of staff shortages in primary and secondary schools.
According to the internal information available so far and the measures currently available, "the number of staff in the types of school mentioned will not be successful in autumn 2022," writes Heiss.
The association also sees an “unmanageable public pressure on the state school authorities”.
Heiss, himself employed professionally as the technical director of such a school authority in Miesbach, had previously warned of a “challenging year” in this role.
In the letter as chairman of the regional association, however, he becomes even clearer.
Labor market "severely overloaded"
The hourly allowances and contract quotas made available are not sufficient to close foreseeable gaps due to the “severely overburdened labor market”.
"The coverage of staff shortages during the school year by the mobile reserve cannot be guaranteed," continues Heiss.
The reason for this: In many places, the reserve was already raised at the beginning of the school year – “e.g. due to the necessary replacement of pregnant colleagues”.
On behalf of the association, Heiss therefore “urgently” demands that several measures be implemented as quickly as possible.
Even if the letter was drawn up at the end of last year, the majority of the demands are still valid, the chairman confirms.
Among other things, the state association wants to continue to persuade the Ministry of Education to “immediately stop poaching second-qualified students at grammar schools and secondary schools”.
It is not so common in the district of Miesbach, but it is widespread throughout Bavaria that former middle school teachers can switch to secondary schools and grammar schools via an additional qualification that is proactively offered.
Among other things, a higher salary lures there, which Heiss would like to change in the long term.
Elementary and middle schools are "already undersupplied far beyond measure", poaching "a slap in the office".
The requirement to return teachers who had already been poached was also “not met to the desired extent”.
Positions at grammar schools and secondary schools for educating refugees from Ukraine have also not been taken back.
Eagerly awaited parental complaints
The demand for the “repeal of the general ban on pregnant teachers entering schools” was also not met.
As reported, pregnant women are not allowed to teach on site this year either.
The association wants to suspend so-called credit hours, in which teachers teach fewer hours in favor of other tasks.
This wish was “not fulfilled across the board”, says Heiss.
The same also applies to the demand for a uniform reduction in the timetable - here each school authority can decide for itself.
In particular, Heiss calls for consistent support from the ministry.
"Parents' complaints about the press and politics are to be expected", writes Heiss in relation to cuts and mergers, which he calls "unpopular measures".
The "transparent and honest presentation of existing staff shortages to the public and parents" is necessary.
Piazolo had recently spoken "surprisingly openly" from Heiss' point of view - but did not give all the details.
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