2023-07-31 04:52:46
Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) is optimistic that, despite the shortage of teachers, he will be able to offer all lessons in the new school year. “We are still in the middle of the allocation, but overall it looks very good,” Polaschek told APA. As things stand, everything should be fine. There should be a draft for the new teacher training at the end of the summer – at the moment it’s still being debated on topics such as study architecture and career entry.
When it comes to filling teaching positions, there are still major differences depending on the region and subject. Vorarlberg traditionally finds it difficult because of its proximity to Switzerland, said the minister. As in previous years, overtime, students and career changers are used in all federal states.
According to Polaschek, the shortage is alleviated by the influx of people to the ministry’s initiative for career changers. “It turned out to be significantly more than expected.”
In total, more than 3,000 people applied for lateral entry at a school. Anyone who has a suitable course of study (e.g. business administration for the subject mathematics) and three or, in exceptional cases, 1.5 years of professional experience (e.g. statistician, auditing) is eligible. In addition, following successful certification, you also have to get a job at a school and then complete a career changer degree at a teacher training college (PH) parallel to your classes. A job in the normal teacher salary scheme beckons.
According to the old regulation, which provided for lower-paid special contracts, only 300 or at most 400 career changers came to the schools each year. Now 3,000 people have applied, 1,000 have already been certified and 600 have applied for a position at a school. As before, new certifications are constantly being added. Most of them are supposed to teach at a middle school – especially in the subjects German, mathematics and English. “That’s where we have the greatest need.”
Lateral entry for elementary school is currently not possible. “There are different demands on teachers than in secondary school,” Polaschek explained. However, one is currently in intensive talks with experts in order to define from which professions a lateral entry into elementary school is also possible.
According to Polaschek, when reforming teacher training, questions regarding the study architecture, the content and the design of the career entry (“induction phase”) still have to be clarified with the Greens. It is therefore not yet certain how long the bachelor’s or master’s degree should last and in which part of the study or to what extent the practical parts will be anchored. According to Polaschek, there must also be changes in the induction phase. This was introduced at a time when there was a surplus of teachers. “The idea was that the bachelor’s graduates would teach for a few hours at the schools – supported by mentors. Now, however, many teach significantly more, so we have to see how these people can also finish their master’s degree well.” Polaschek sees no need for changes in the aptitude procedures for prospective students.
Polaschek wants to meet the demands of the teachers’ union for more support staff and relief from administrative tasks. There were some delays with the support staff. “But I assume that more staff will come.”
According to Polaschek, the question of assistance and leisure time pedagogy on the one hand and special educational needs (SPF) on the other hand must be clarified during the negotiations on financial equalization. A new job description is to be created for recreational educators, and these are no longer to be financed through special-purpose grants, but are to be employed regularly through the Education Directorate. With the SPF, the federal states are calling for the end of the “cap”, which currently only provides additional resources for 2.7 percent of students with disabilities. An evaluation of the award practice should be carried out before the start of the negotiations – but unfortunately this has been delayed, according to Polaschek.
The minister is also convinced of the introduction of compulsory education as laid down in the government program, according to which young people are only allowed to leave the school system following they have achieved certain educational goals. However, there are still “differing views on detailed questions” with the Greens – for example to what extent a kind of secondary school certificate should be introduced as an examination or what level of performance is required for this. “I have no idea how far we’re going to get in these talks.”
Polaschek has no understanding for those headmasters who do not implement the German remedial classes. A survey recently showed that the requirements are not being complied with everywhere. “If we don’t have the opportunity for children to learn the language in a so-called ‘language pool’ because there simply aren’t enough people around them who speak German, it doesn’t work any other way.” Therefore, there is a clear political will for separate German remedial classes or German remedial courses. “And that should be implemented in the interests of the children.”
At the beginning of the school year, a working group made up of experts and practitioners is to present further recommendations and instructions from the ministry on how to deal with artificial intelligence (AI). “We have to think regarding the impact this has on exams, homework or schoolwork.” Speaking of exams: Irrespective of the AI question, Polaschek sees no need to change the Matura, at least for the coming school year.
There are still no further details on the demands from universities and research institutions for higher budgets due to inflation. Here one stands only at the beginning of the negotiations with the Ministry of Finance, so Polaschek. There are no plans to expand the medical study places beyond the 150 additional places already fixed by 2028. “We have enough graduates. However, it is not possible for people with a degree to take up the professions where we have a shortage. The demand for more places does not solve this basic problem.”
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