More independent schools in Saxony - concerns about teacher shortage

In Saxony, the number of independent schools has continued to rise. According to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, there were a total of 431 independent schools in the 2024/25 school year - eight more than in the previous school year. These include both general education schools and vocational schools. This year saw the addition of the Freie Gymnasium am König-Albert-Stift Plauen, while last year's additions included the Freie Schule Langenbernsdorf in Werdau, AHF Grund- und Oberschule in Markkleeberg and Freie Grundschule Falkennest Wiesenena.

Siegfried Kost, spokesperson for the Saxony Independent Schools Association, cited the educational diversity of independent schools, smaller classes and alternative learning concepts as reasons for the increase. According to Kost, there are courses at vocational schools that are no longer offered in the state sector. Many families also appreciate the closer contact between teachers and parents.

Smaller classes and alternative learning concepts

In recent years, the number of independent schools has risen steadily: according to the Ministry of Education, there were 380 ten years ago and just 121 in the mid-1990s. There are currently almost 84,000 boys and girls studying at an independent school - taught by more than 8,000 teachers.

Despite the increase in numbers, independent schools will also have to work harder than before to recruit new teachers in view of the expected decline in pupil numbers. This has not been the case in the past "in order to avoid having to turn down too many applicants", says Kost.

Holger Kehler, Managing Director of the Freie Waldorfschule Dresden, expects the demographic downturn to reach the schools in two or three years at the latest. The enrolment figures at the kindergartens are already providing clear indications. To counteract this, the Waldorf School held an open day at the beginning of September - for the first time in almost 25 years. "Immediately afterwards, we were able to register almost 20 new registrations for the upcoming first classes and another 20 for lateral entries," reports Kehler.

More international students thanks to the chip industry?

The school also offers "German as a second language". In view of the international influx due to the expansion of the chip industry in Dresden, this could also be a building block for stable pupil numbers, according to Kehler.

At the "Schkola", an independent school provider with six schools in the border triangle of Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland, the influx of pupils continues unabated. "We haven't noticed a drop in pupil numbers so far," says Managing Director Ute Wunderlich. In Hartau, for example, 22 to 24 children are admitted to first grade each school year - there are applications for up to 80 children. The concept: self-determined learning in mixed-age groups, home-cooked meals and foreign languages from neighboring countries. Polish and Czech are on the timetable from Year 1 onwards.

The Montessori school in Chemnitz also says it is "full to capacity". According to a spokeswoman for the Montessori association, there have been enough registrations so far. "However, it is noticeable that the number of rejections we have to send to interested parents has decreased in recent years."

Siegfried Kost from the Arbeitsgemeinschaft sächsischer Schulen in freier Trägerschaft assumes that schools in rural areas will be particularly affected by falling pupil numbers. However, independent schools in particular could react more quickly and, for example, merge classes into mixed year groups. "It is difficult to predict what impact this will have in the end," said Kost.

The biggest problem, however, is recruiting new teachers for independent schools. With the possibility of permanent employment at public institutions, numerous teachers have switched. It is also difficult to recruit young, trained teachers. The younger generation in particular prefers the security of public service and civil servant status. "There is no solution in sight," Kost lamented.