School Hours Missed Plummet Due to Teacher Health, Says Education Minister
Increase in Uncancelled Classes, According to Ministry's Report - Reduced School Absenteeism Affirmed by Department of Education
In the 2023/24 academic year, missing school hours saw a significant decrease compared to the previous year, as revealed by Education Minister Simone Oldenburg in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. At publicly managed schools, 3.3% of the teaching hours were affected, according to the minister.
The highest rate was observed at comprehensive schools (6%) and regional schools (4.8%). Conversely, at gymnasiums, the percentage dropped to 3.8%, while at special schools, it was 1.6%, and at primary schools, it hit a mere 0.9%.
The primary culprit? Teachers or their children falling ill.
At vocational schools under public management, 7.6% of all teaching hours were absent. This figure showed a slight decrease from the 2022/23 school year (7.8%). Oldenburg attributes this tense staff situation to the issue at hand.
Approximately 13.9% of the total teaching hours during the 2023/24 school year were covered by other teachers or by combining classes. This figure represents a slight decline compared to the prior year. Incidentally, at vocational schools, 13.8% of the hours were covered by substitutes.
Teachers stepping in for absent colleagues or combining classes was the solution used to avert missed lessons. As Oldenburg explained, "There were opportunities for teachers to work overtime, and we, in turn, offered them additional compensation, encouraging this practice." Moreover, the minister cited the efforts of specially hired substitute teachers, including retired and student teachers, who stepped in when necessary. Part-time teachers and interns also increased their hours. Classes were combined when possible to minimize lost hours.
Oldenburg pinpointed illnesses among teachers or their children as the main cause of missed and substitute teaching. Other factors such as maternity leave, a ban on employment for pregnant teachers, or parental leave also played a role. Remarkably, the number of hours that needed to be covered due to sick children of teachers had doubled since the 2018/19 school year. Additionally, the aging workforce of teachers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is noteworthy.
Illnesses amongst educators and their offspring emerged as the predominant cause for missed school hours in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern during the 2023/24 academic year. This trend sheds light on how the overall health of teachers and their families plays a crucial role in minimizing instructional time losses and maintaining educational continuity in the region for that school year.
- The Education Minister in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Simone Oldenburg, attributed the decrease in missed school hours to a high prevalence of illnesses among teachers and their children.
- In the 2023/24 academic year, vocational schools under public management saw a slight decrease in absent teaching hours, with 7.6% affected.
- Oldenburg emphasized the significant role of vocational training in the region, stating that efforts were made to compensate teachers who worked overtime in light of the increased workload.
- The general news in education-and-self-development modules highlighted the noticeable impact of illnesses on school hours, emphasizing the importance of community policy considerations to manage this issue and maintain educational continuity for students.
