This year, 16.5 percent more people started studying to become teachers than last year. A particularly large number of students opted for primary school, followed by general higher schools (AHS), secondary schools (MS) and secondary and higher vocational schools (BMHS).
Minister of Education Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) announced this at a press conference on Friday. In absolute figures, 3,757 people have started training for a bachelor’s degree in general education (AHS, MS and BMHS), and 2,175 people have started training for primary school (elementary school). Both studies last eight semesters or four years.
Polaschek attributes the increase in part to the ‘Class Job’ initiative he started, which recruits career changers and bundles information campaigns. There are currently more than 120,000 teachers employed, and approximately 20,000 full-time positions will need to be filled in the next five years alone. This year, more than 7,800 new teachers were hired, most of them in Vienna.
University course for career changers
653 of them started as career changers. These are people who have not completed a teaching course, but have completed another subject-related course. They also had to go through an online procedure and a personal interview. In addition to the lessons, a university education is also required.
The desired reform of teacher training still does not seem to be in sight. Polaschek and his team had considered shortening the bachelor’s degree to three years and reducing the duration of secondary school teacher training (including the master’s degree) from six to five years. The master’s degree program should also become more possible outside of work. Negotiations with the Greens are currently underway. A national start next school year is no longer realistic.
NEOS: Polaschek is discouraged
Criticism of this came from the opposition. Polaschek must finally tackle the reform, FPÖ education spokesman Hermann Brückl said in a broadcast. The NEOS also spoke of “lack of courage and sugar-coating” as constant companions of the Minister of Education. The acute teacher shortage is at the expense of children and young people. Many schools already do not have supervising teachers for children and young people with disabilities or learning difficulties.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
