Shortage of teachers in Bavaria: Piazolo relies on more career changers - expert suggests another option

With lateral entrants, the goal in Bavaria is to get the teacher shortage under control.

Criticism comes from the opposition.

An education expert sees further potential.

Munich – Are Bayern running out of teachers?

The fact is that more and more teachers are retiring and not enough young colleagues are following.

According to the Bavarian Teachers' Association (BLLV), the Free State lacks up to 4,000 teachers.

Bavaria's Minister of Education, Michael Piazolo (free voters), wants to do something about this.

He is now increasingly focusing on career changers and is losing sight of another option from the point of view of an education expert.

Making it easier for career changers to switch to teaching

With the slogan "School in Bavaria - an attractive workplace with a future", the Ministry of Education advertises on its website for career starters or, in this case, especially for career changers.

The aim is to make it easier for academics to switch to teaching.

Minister Piazolo: “We are making the path to teaching much more flexible than before.

In addition to the classic teacher training course, we want to offer attractive career prospects to everyone who wants to become a teacher after completing their studies or after working in another profession.”

"Slap in the face": Retired teacher is reactivated - then the state collects 10,000 euros from her

In concrete terms, this means that you must have completed a relevant course of study for the chosen subject.

In the case of vocational schools, relevant professional experience is sufficient.

To do this, prospective teachers must complete a two-year preparatory service – the so-called traineeship.

There they are to be taught the “necessary knowledge of pedagogy, psychology and didactics”, according to the ministry website.

In the future, technical college graduates with a master’s degree will also be allowed to teach at secondary and vocational schools.

In other federal states, this is already possible with a bachelor's degree.

(By the way: Our Bayern newsletter informs you about all the important stories from Bavaria. Register here.)

Education expert speaks of great potential among foreign educators

A danger for the education expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, Dirk Zorn.

He expressed his fears to the BR that further lowering of the minimum academic standards would result in a critical situation.

In addition, in his opinion, a source of qualified labor would not be exhausted at all.

According to Zorn, it would be much easier for foreign teachers to have their qualifications recognized in Germany.

So far, 80 percent of teachers trained abroad have tried in vain for recognition in Germany.

The opposition also criticizes the plans of the Ministry of Education.

Potential career changers must also be helped during their studies so that nobody has to stand in front of a class “unqualified”.

"Anyone who has completed a degree and would like to switch to teaching must, according to current regulations, complete a two-year traineeship, which is usually paid much less than the previous job," says Simone Strohmayr, spokeswoman for education policy for the SPD.

She also directs her criticism very clearly at the ruling parties in Bavaria.

"If more and more lessons are canceled due to the increasing shortage of teachers, those responsible at the CSU and Free Voters must finally wake up and give up their disastrous laissez-faire attitude of the past few years." Piazolo counters with figures that indicate a positive development.

Since 2.7 percent more funds are available for education in the 2023 budget year compared to the previous year, 1,152 new positions for teachers can also be created.

"We are thus clearly exceeding the 5,000 new jobs that we had targeted in the coalition agreement for this legislative period," said the Minister of Education.

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