Brandenburg Kicks Off Teacher Hiring Again Amidst Controversy
- Teacher recruitment in Brandenburg resumes following hiatus.
Brandenburg recently reignited its teacher-hiring engine after a brief pause, aiming to tackle the persistent shortage of educators. Edward Freiberg, the Education Minister (SPD), affirmed this move, sparking controversy, even within his own coalition of SPD/BSW. He clarified that the brief cessation was merely to conduct a budget review and prevent overspending, as he explained during the education committee's state parliament meeting.
Freiberg vehemently denies allegations of a hiring freeze. He informed state school authorities that contracts could once again be issued, with job offers extended to all qualified teaching staff who apply in Brandenburg, including lateral entrants with a solid basic qualification. Over 1,000 educators have already secured positions or been offered jobs for the upcoming school year.
The hiring hold faced backlash
Brandenburg grapples with a teacher shortage, leading to lesson cancellations. Under the current plan, the number of teachers is projected to decrease from the current 20,783 in the 2025/2026 academic year to 20,542 in the following year.
Initially, the Ministry of Education mentioned a temporary hiring ban for teachers. This pause received criticism from opposition parties AfD and CDU, trade unions, and parents. Even the chairman of the SPD faction, Bjoern Luttmann, expressed his disapproval. "This lapse in communication should not have happened," he stated, adding that he advocates for more consistent work and communication in the education sector.
Unions plan protests
The Education and Science Union (GEW) has signaled resistance. "Prepare for large protest actions during the state budget debate in May," announced GEW state chairman Guenther Fuchs to the German Press Agency, setting May 21 as the date. Fuchs pointed out that the number of students continues to grow while teacher numbers decline. AfD education politician Dennis Hohloch expressed his concerns in the committee: "We are faced with an acute shortage of teachers."
In the upcoming academic year, beginning from the second semester, teachers are intended to teach one additional hour. However, according to Freiberg, this additional teaching hour will not apply to teachers at support and vocational schools.
Planned childcare expansion under threat
The proposed curtailment of further childcare expansion in Brandenburg's nurseries due to budget cuts is also subject to criticism. According to the previous red-green-black coalition, a childcare worker should oversee 4 children from August 2025 and 4.25 children from August 2024. In 2015, one childcare worker looked after 6 children. "Brandenburg has a high care rate," said Freiberg.
The state government aims to save €12.7 million this year and €33 million next year by forgoing childcare expansion. CDU MP Kristy Augustin still harbors hopes of preventing this.
"We're not making things worse," said State Secretary for Education Hendrik Fischer. However, it's well-known that the number of children in daycare facilities is decreasing. A mother from Potsdam is rallying to preserve better childcare provisions through a petition. Over 9,000 people had signed by Tuesday afternoon.
- Brandenburg
- Teachers
- Staffing situation
- Steffen Freiberg
- SPD
- AfD
- CDU
- Children
- GEW
Insights:
- Under Germany's federal system, educational governance is divided between the federal and state levels, with state authorities having significant autonomy in managing local educational systems.
- Teacher staffing in Germany is subject to Dienstaufsicht, which involves staff supervision to ensure adherence to regulatory standards.
- Education Minister Steffen Freiberg's actions regarding the temporary hiring pause might be addressed through public statements or policy announcements by the relevant state or federal educational authorities.
- The controversial resumption of teacher hiring in Brandenburg, overseen by Education Minister Steffen Freiberg, has drawn criticism from opposition parties such as AfD and CDU, as well as unions like GEW, due to concerns about the persistent teacher shortage and the potential impact on student education.
- In an effort to address the shortage, Freiberg has announced that Brandenburg will offer jobs to all qualified teaching staff who apply, including lateral entrants with a solid basic qualification. Over 1,000 educators have already secured positions or been offered jobs for the upcoming school year.
- The Education and Science Union (GEW) has signaled resistance and has announced plans for large protest actions during the state budget debate in May, expressing concern over the proposed curtailment of further childcare expansion in Brandenburg's nurseries due to budget cuts, as well as the decline in the number of teachers while the number of students continues to grow.
