"It's going to be a big deal" - Scholz expects a teacher shortage for years to come

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has warned of a growing problem of a lack of teachers in schools. “Of course, we have to prepare for a teacher shortage, for example. I don't think many people have foreseen that," said Scholz on Saturday at a public discussion in his federal constituency in Potsdam.

"It's going to be a big deal because it's the same everywhere in Germany and there's a shortage of teachers everywhere. (...) I'm afraid that will keep us busy for the next ten years and won't just disappear," said Scholz.

The SPD politician used Bavaria as an example of a shortage of teachers. "Mr. Söder even said that we are stealing teachers from other countries - a very solidary process, if I may say so," he said with a smile, looking at Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU). In some countries the number of hours taught by teachers is being increased, in others higher class frequencies are being discussed.

In Brandenburg, the capacity of teacher training at Potsdam University has been expanded, said Scholz. Elementary school teachers would be trained in Senftenberg in the future.

Due to the shortage of teachers, Brandenburg's Minister of Education Britta Ernst (SPD) - Scholz' wife - is planning, among other things, that 200 teaching posts will be rededicated to administrative specialists and school social workers, which will reduce resources for additional offers such as remedial and all-day classes and inclusion. There is resistance from schools, including from the red-black-green coalition. Ernst defends the plans by saying that the 1,800 new teachers needed for the coming school year cannot be won.

"Kick-off Politics" is WELT's daily news podcast. The most important topic analyzed by WELT editors and the dates of the day. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, among others, or directly via RSS feed.