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Berlin finally wants to make progress on the issue of teacher shortages.
The number of graduates in teacher training courses is expected to increase significantly.
The Science Senator is already hoping for this year.
Berlin - Berlin urgently needs more teachers and therefore wants to increase the number of graduates in teacher training courses.
Science Senator Ina Czyborra is already expecting a significant increase this year.
An order of magnitude of 1,500 is realistic, said the SPD politician on Tuesday after the Senate meeting, at which she provided information about the current status.
Around the same number of teacher training students across Berlin are currently in the final phase of their studies in their practical semester.
2,000 graduates are expected in the coming years.
In 2022, for the first time, just over 1,000 teacher training students earned a master's degree at Berlin universities and were thus able to begin their preparatory service.
Against the background of the chronic shortage of teachers in Berlin schools, training at universities should be further expanded.
The situation is not getting any easier: Czyborra pointed out that the number of school leavers is decreasing and with it the number of potential students.
“This also has an impact on teacher training.”
Czyborra said that in addition to expanding capacity in teacher training courses at universities, it was therefore necessary to interest more high school graduates in studying and becoming teachers.
Another component is better support for teacher training students to ensure their academic success.
The Science Senator sees a need for clarification on the question of why many students in Berlin still give up during their teacher training studies.
The rate is 20 percent and is therefore not unusually high.
Still, Czyborra wants to clarify what could be done to push them further.
The results of a study on this topic are available and are now being evaluated.
Several reform projects are also being examined, such as courses for teachers who will later only teach one subject.
The topic will be discussed in the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs.
Czyborra says she expects a decision to be made this year.
However, it is also important to better interlink theory and practice as early as possible in the course of study, i.e. more practical content in the bachelor's phase.
“It's also about designing the teacher training program in such a way that it prepares you as best as possible for the reality of Berlin schools.” Today, teachers have to do much more than impart knowledge.
They must be able to deal with conflicts and be familiar with democracy and media education, said Czyborra.
It is also important to take a better look at the social situation of the students.
Czyborra pointed to a corresponding scholarship program run by the education administration that supports students who are not completely financially secure.
dpa