Saxony's Minister of Culture Conrad Clemens (CDU) is sticking to his controversial package of measures to safeguard school teaching. In one particularly controversial point, the Minister of Education announced changes to the first draft. However, as planned, there will be more lessons in digital formats, more interdisciplinary lessons and fewer written exams and class tests in future.
"I know that these measures are not popular. But they are absolutely necessary," said Clemens after the cabinet meeting in Dresden. All measures have an expiry date; they will expire and be evaluated on July 31, 2030.
Clemens assumes that the teacher shortage will be history by then - and expects improvements to be made this fall. In the coming school year, there will also be 2,500 fewer girls and boys in elementary school. "In a few years, we will be talking about no longer having a shortage of teachers."
The reform now goes less far than initially planned in terms of the hours that teachers have to teach after a certain age. From the age of 60, there is now one hour reduction. When they reach the age of 62, 64 and 66, further lessons follow - so four in total. There are currently three hours less from the age of 58.
The 21 measures were rejected by the teachers' interest groups. "The overall package will cause lasting damage to school education in Saxony. We are furious," said the Education and Science Union. The Saxon Teachers' Association (SLV) titled its statement "Target missed".
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