Union Rallies Against Education Overhaul in Saxony: GEW Protest Over Ministry's Package
- Protesters Urged by GEW to Demonstrate Against the Education Plan
Hey there! Today, we're diving into the heated education debate unfolding in Saxony, where the Education and Science Trade Union (GEW) is urging state-wide demonstrations. Curious about the fuss? So are we! Let's uncover the details.
GEW's Warning Bell
The GEW sounds the alarm over the education package unveiled by Saxony's Ministry of Culture, warning that the proposed measures will worsen an already daunting school environment. The measures, I must add, will likely crank up the workload and degrade the quality of education or so claims the GEW.
Protests Planned
From April 8 to 10, you can catch the protests rallying across Saxony. Expect these protests first in Leipzig, then moving on to Chemnitz, and concluding in Dresden. If you call Saxony home, or are an educator, parent, student, or citizen with an opinion on education, you're invited to participate!
Steering the Union's Course
Burkhard Naumann, aptly named chairman of the GEW in Saxony, expresses the union's demand to withdraw the forthcoming measures. Schools, according to Naumann, are partially drowning under stress as it is. The proposed measures could cause a tidal wave, making the situation unbearably tense.
The Ministry's Education Package
Why this relentless drive for change? The Saxon Ministry of Culture aims to lock down school lessons by employing a bundle of measures. As it stands, lessons get canceled more often than you'd think, particularly in secondary schools.
The plan involves older teachers working more hours than before and altering existing regulations like the so-called age allowance. This allowance lets teachers aged 58 and above savor a week's hour, and two extra hours from age 60, altering to three hours for those aged 61. In the future, though, the age allowance will only be applicable from 63 years of age.
Moreover, changes to the recognition of hours for specific functions and increased student-teacher interaction during studies are expected. The ministry wrestles with a shortage of approximately 1,400 full-time teachers in the Free State, just in case you're wondering.
A Grim Forecast for Older Educators
According to Naumann, cutting age allowance represents a grim signal to older educators. Shouting loud and clear, the union insists it wants meaningful enhancements to working conditions, not short-term solutions that grind educators and the quality of education underfoot.
GEW: Who and What?
Still confused about GEW? This union champions the rights of educators and scientists, advocating for better working conditions, fair remuneration, and secure employment in the education sector.
Stay tuned for updates as the story unfolds!
- The GEW's current protest in Saxony is primarily focused on the Saxony's Ministry of Culture's package of measures that they believe will strain the already difficult school environment, potentially increasing workload and compromising the quality of vocational training.
- Planned protests from April 8 to 10 will take place across Saxony in Leipzig, Chemnitz, and Dresden, inviting all educators, parents, students, and citizens with an opinion on education to participate.
- Burkhard Naumann, chairman of GEW in Saxony, demands the withdrawal of the forthcoming measures, arguing that the proposed changes, such as reducing age allowance for teachers, could create a highly stressful and tense environment in schools.
