Overview of the federal states – teacher shortage: overtime must solve the weather

First of all: according to the APA broadcast, classes must be guaranteed in all classes in Austria in the nine federal states. It has to direct overtime, but also students.

• In Lower Austria For example, where in the spring there was a warning about a dramatic teacher shortage, according to the Education Directorate, all vacancies can now be filled. However, there is no reserve staff. That’s also because almost 50 percent of all teachers work part-time because they still have to do their master’s while they work. There is a shortage of well-trained teachers in subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, exercise and sports, music or art education. To ensure that all hours can be tracked, trainee teachers would also be used and overtime would also be incurred.

• Also from the Burgenland states that all 290 vacancies can be filled for the coming school year. Nevertheless, one would like to have more candidates for Croatian, Mathematics, English, Physics and Chemistry as well as Music and Drawing in primary and secondary schools. Currently, according to the education department, about every applicant for Croatian gets a job.

• In the Styria it is emphasized that, apart from short-term absences due to sick leave or staff turnover, classes are conducted as planned and that there should be a sufficient number of teachers in the classrooms. Should there nevertheless be problems with sustaining all classes, an attempt will be made to increase the number of teachers already on duty with their permission or to recruit staff from other locations. In addition, there is a pool of over 300 students in their later semesters.

• In Upper Austria it is also generally assumed that the necessary staff is available for the start of the school. According to the Directorate of Education, there are currently about 250 vacancies from about 11,800 permanent positions in compulsory schools. The greatest need is in primary and secondary schools, all six regions of education are affected. In particular, teachers for the subjects German, English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and exercise and sports are in demand. There is still a lack of classroom teachers in some primary schools. In the event of insufficient staff, an attempt is made to compensate for this with overtime work by other teachers.

• “We assume that education can be guaranteed at all school locations,” the statement also reads Tyrolean Ministry of Education insured. At the end of August, there were still 142 vacancies. Bottlenecks are most common in primary and secondary schools, regionally in the districts of Innsbruck-Stadt, Innsbruck-Land and Kufstein. According to the Ministry of Education, this mainly concerns mathematics, English, German and exercise and sports. In order to safeguard education in all locations, the education department makes use of overtime, a mutual increase in the volume of part-time jobs and the deployment of postgraduate students.

• In Salzburg only 1.2 percent of the job plan is currently uncovered. “We can handle such situations,” it was emphasized. Specifically, 74 of the 4,400 permanent positions in the compulsory education sector are currently vacant for 1,200 hours a week, although applications are still coming in. There is still a need for teachers to lead classes across the country, especially in primary schools, and there is a need for staff for major subjects in secondary schools. So that at least all hours can be kept up to date, a large part is done with overtime. “But students and retirees are also used.”

• In Carinthia it is believed that “almost all” posts can be filled in the compulsory education sector. Of the approximately 280 vacancies for which the application period has already passed, approximately 250 have already been filled. Most difficulties in finding staff arise in the compulsory schooling area in Upper Carinthia with its many small and very small schools. In mathematics, physics and in the minority school system it is difficult all over Carinthia. In order to better absorb absenteeism due to illness, the education department of the primary schools calls on “jumping teachers”. In federal schools, 17 of the 180 advertised vacancies are still vacant.

• from Vorarlberg so far no figures are available, but recently the search for staff was described as the biggest challenge in the education sector in their state. Regarding the filling of vacancies for the coming school year, Education Minister Barbara Schöbi-Fink had cautious confidence, but also emphasized that she did not want to exaggerate the situation.

• Also from Vienna no numbers are mentioned related to the still ongoing recording process. “There is no doubt that all classes are taught that are required to be taught according to the curriculum,” says the education department. It is particularly tight in high schools, AHS and secondary and higher vocational (BMHS) schools in subjects such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, girls’ sports and music. In addition, applicants who have been educated at primary school are also being sought. According to the Education Directorate, the desire for part-time work also plays a role here. It is emphasized that if possible, there should be no fewer teachers in the class than actually planned.