Tackling School Shortages: Pedagogical Teaching Assistants to Step In
Teacher absence can be minimized through the use of educational resources and tools. - Streamlining resources for minimizing work interruptions
Minister of Education, Eva Feußner (CDU), has announced that Saxony-Anhalt will hire an additional 200 staff members, focusing on secondary and comprehensive schools which are particularly hard-hit by teacher shortages. These staff will make up a new intermediate category between teaching staff and pedagogical employees, known as pedagogical teaching assistants.
"We need pedagogical teaching assistants," said Feußner. "They'll help with subject teaching and support in other areas." The goal is to deploy one such staff member per school, with applications running until June 20. These staff members could potentially start as early as the new school year.
The teaching supply in secondary schools lags other school forms, such as primary schools and grammar schools, according to the Ministry of Education. On the latest reference date of February 3, it was at 87.6 percent, while it was 94.5 percent across all school forms. This figure represents the percentage of mandated teaching that can be covered. The coalition had targeted a teaching supply of 103 percent to account for illness cases, parental leave, and further training.
Teachers should focus on mandatory teaching, according to Feüssner, who aims to relieve them of non-essential tasks to minimize class cancellations. The desired amendment to the School Act suggests that the new category of pedagogical teaching assistants will be given organizational and legal equality with teachers.
The roles of pedagogical teaching assistants will span various areas, including teaching support, school organization, and accompanying practical learning days and school trips. They'll work six time units a day and will be extensively qualified. The first-year will provide one teaching day per week for qualification, followed by a two-week pre-course and a trial period before indefinite employment.
Applicants must be external staff who aren't already employed in the state school service. Those with three or more years of pedagogical work experience with children, including social workers, social pedagogues, educators, and healing education nurses, are encouraged to apply.
However, Thomas Lippmann of the Left parliamentary group argues that these pedagogical teaching assistants need teaching qualifications to be more effective. He views the move as a stopgap measure rather than a long-term solution.
This initiative comes in the context of ongoing efforts to address staffing needs in education and the region's involvement in improving educational infrastructure. Technological advancements, such as the use of AI tools in schools, may also play a role in enhancing educational efficiency and effectiveness. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on Saxony-Anhalt's plan to hire pedagogical teaching assistants, it is essential to consult local educational authorities or press releases.
- The pedagogical teaching assistants, who will be extensively qualified and work in various areas including teaching support and school organization, are part of the community policy aimed at addressing the staffing needs in Saxony-Anhalt's education and self-development sector.
- The vocational training for pedagogical teaching assistants includes a trial period, a pre-course, and one teaching day per week for qualification, with the goal of providing them with enough learning opportunities to effectively contribute to the education system.
