Struggling to fill head teacher positions, particularly at elementary schools, is a challenge facing Thuringia. Data from the Ministry of Education reveals that mid-August saw 61 vacant head teacher positions out of 392, equating to a 15.6% vacancy rate. In contrast, grammar schools had only 8 vacancies, equating to 9.3% of positions being vacant.
Interestingly, the special school sector had a higher vacancy rate of around 10%, with 17 head teacher positions vacant out of 174. Overall, the vacancy rate was around 10.8%, with 86 unfilled positions across 804 head teacher posts.
The Ministry attributes this issue to a generational change, with educators considering leadership roles being supported through preparatory qualifications and training courses. Thuringia's Minister of Education, Helmut Holter, is engaging in regional head teacher discussion rounds and digital consultations, using the feedback to improve the situation.
Addressing this issue could involve making head teacher roles more appealing. Strategies such as improving working conditions, offering competitive pay, providing location flexibility, offering professional development opportunities, and providing incentives and support could help attract and retain individuals. However, it's unclear if these strategies are being implemented by the Thuringian Ministry of Education.
