Of . – 07/09/2022 14:02 (act 07/09/2022 18:04)
According to Education Minister Martin Polashek (ÖVP), the shortage of teachers was “unpredictable”. ©APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER
For Education Minister Martin Polashek (ÖVP), the extent of teacher shortages in some regions or subjects was “unpredictable”.
A greater need was expected in recent years – but the situation has been exacerbated by previous retirements during the Corona period and the need for workers in other sectors, Polaschek told the APA. Training, framework conditions and labor legislation are therefore under scrutiny.
According to Polaschek, the shortage of teachers was “unpredictable”
Other countries, like Germany, would also face the same problem. “During the pandemic, more teachers said they would stop early,” Polaschek said. “And more graduate professors accepted job offers in other areas. The market went really bad from there.”
In the short term, attempts were made to resort to career changes
In the short term, attempts are therefore being made not only for students but also for lateral entrants, ie people who have not completed a degree but have completed a related subject and are duly qualified. They first have to go through an assessment center and at the same time take appropriate training courses.
Polaschek estimates that around 200 to 300 people could be recruited to change careers each year. “It’s an important addition. But we’re not going to solve the problem alone.”
The teaching image of the future must make the profession more attractive
They are therefore working on an image of the teacher of the future, with which the profession must become more attractive. In addition, the range of courses is being put to the test – recently there have been repeated calls for training to be shortened. “In the coming weeks, two assessments will be available – on the one hand the training of teachers by the Quality Assurance Council and on the other the situation of young teachers.” The necessary discussions will then be held with universities and teacher training colleges.
Graduates can teach after four years of study
Currently, graduates can already teach in schools after their four-year bachelor’s degree. You then go through a one-year induction phase and must complete at least one year’s master’s degree within a maximum of five years while you work. If they don’t, they no longer meet the employment requirements.
Polaschek: The requirements have changed in the meantime
Meanwhile, conditions have changed here, according to Polaschek. “The starting point was clearly the assumption that the teacher training course is conceived as a complete course with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. also study part-time for a master’s degree – with a focus on studies. Now that has changed due to the shortage of teachers. They have to teach earlier and more often in some subjects. As a result, they study less.” Therefore, it is now time to consider whether to change the curriculum or resort to the service law.
Introduction of the disciplines of ethics and digital basic education
Polaschek advocated introducing additional subjects such as ethics or digital basic education in times of teacher shortages. The greatest need is in subjects such as German, mathematics, English and natural sciences, while there are enough teachers for ethics, for example. The lack of elementary school teachers also has nothing to do with ethics classes in higher grades.
Free games for additional task educators
We would like to combat teacher shortages indirectly by freeing educators from additional tasks. According to Polaschek, education departments were instructed to reduce unnecessary administrative activities as early as the spring. For example, reporting obligations have been reduced and we are currently looking at what relief is still possible. Professional representation was also sought for suggestions. The AMS project to hire administrative staff, which was previously limited in time, also had an unlimited term – it could be increased from 400 to 700 people, while working on expanding support staff such as social workers.
There will be no major changes at Matura, according to Polaschek. . This must continue to occur verbally for everyone. “The system has proven itself.”