Minister of Culture continues tour of schools and daycare centers

Saxony's Minister of Education Conrad Clemens (CDU) wants to continue visiting local schools - talking to teachers, pupils and parents. "Listen to where the shoe pinches and tackle it together" is the motto of his school tour. The school tour, which began a year ago, also includes visits to childcare facilities and is now set to continue, the ministry announced.

Clemens took stock: he has since visited 20 kindergartens, 46 elementary school, 55 secondary schools, 45 grammar schools, 12 special schools, 6 community schools, 2 after-school care centers and 13 vocational and technical schools. This Thursday will be the 200th institution - the "Johann Friedrich Jencke" special needs center in Dresden.

Minister of Education wants "real encounters"

"It's not about numbers, but about real encounters," emphasized Clemens. Dialogue is indispensable for his work. "The visits give me valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing our schools. It is a great pleasure to talk to so many committed teachers, principals, pupils and parents."

Saxony wants to further reduce teaching shortfalls

It is crucial to continue investing in schools and ensure that every child receives the best possible education, explained the Minister. "That is why we are continuing our fight against the shortfall in teaching - with more teachers and a fairer distribution."

The shortage of teachers and the resulting loss of teaching hours are the biggest problems at schools in Saxony. In the first half of the 2024/2025 school year, the proportion of missed lessons was 9.4 percent of the total teaching hours. However, depending on the type of school and region, there were also significantly more absences.

More than 1,000 teachers missing in Saxony

According to figures from last November, there is a shortfall of 1,154 teachers to cover all lessons. In winter 2025, Clemens launched a package of measures. Among other things, older teachers are to work more hours than before. In addition, more digital formats and more interdisciplinary teaching are being targeted. In November, the minister saw the first positive results.