The Education and Science Union (GEW) has rejected criticism from the State Court of Auditors regarding the remuneration of teachers' overtime. "In times of a shortage of teaching staff caused by politicians, everyone involved should be grateful for every additional lesson. Only the willingness of teachers to work overtime can prevent pupils from having to experience even more missed lessons," explained GEW head Claudia Maaß in Leipzig.
Court of Auditors criticizes handling of remuneration for overtime
On Thursday, the Court of Auditors claimed that Saxony has been paying its teachers for every additional lesson since 2017 via a special regulation. However, there is no uniform recording of working hours for teachers. Expenditure for this remuneration had risen from just under 600,000 euros (2016) to 9.8 million euros in 2016. Nevertheless, there has been a 68% increase in lost teaching time over the same period.
The Court of Auditors failed to understand that the majority of teachers' overtime is not paid anyway, as it takes place outside of lessons, the GEW now argued. "Instead of raising suspicions, the State Court of Audit would do well to add up the daily unpaid overtime worked by teachers. These arise, for example, from administrative and correction work, lesson preparation and follow-up, classroom management, work with parents or diagnostic activities and are not compensated either financially or in terms of time," explained GEW boss Maaß.
Union demands even better remuneration
The union demanded even better remuneration for overtime. Since 2014, the rate of pay for an hour of overtime for full-time teachers in Saxony has been 30.27 euros, without any adjustment to inflation, the increased cost of living or the increased workload, it said. Part-time teachers are by no means "overpaid".
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