Teachers urgently wanted: career changers for schools in Uecker-Randow!

Teachers urgently wanted: career changers for schools in Uecker-Randow!

In the idyllic Uecker-Randow region, where the meadows are blooming and the schools are urgently calling for teachers, the issue of teacher shortages is becoming more and more pressing. How Northern Courier According to reports, almost every school in the area is lacking teachers and the situation has not improved. The Greifswald State School Board has already become active and is touring the Vorpommern-Greifswald district to recruit skilled workers and newcomers. A job fair at the Ernst Thälmann regional school in Eggesin sparked promising interest.

The headmistress of Eggesin, Kathleen Krumrück, reports that she currently has seven teaching positions to fill, including important subjects such as German, history, mathematics, physics and computer science. The need for teachers is growing, and applicants with a master's degree are particularly sought after. However, there is also space for newcomers who would like to take on the challenge of teaching at regional schools. Internships are offered to give prospective teachers a first insight into everyday working life.

A strong interest

This development also attracts young people who want to take the plunge into the teaching profession. Johanna Westphal, 25 years old, has already gained experience as an integration assistant and in a children's dance group and could definitely imagine working as a teacher. The head of the Arnold Zweig Regional School in Pasewalk, Sarah Konrad-Bauer, is also among those who are actively looking for new teachers. It has currently advertised six positions, and subjects such as English, sports, art, music and mathematics are also in demand here.

But the shortage of teachers is not an isolated problem in the region. Statista shows that there is a significant shortage of teachers throughout Germany. The effects are particularly noticeable in the eastern federal states: almost 50% of new hires in Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt in 2024 were people without formal teacher training. Forecasts from the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs indicate that there will be a shortage of over 17,400 teachers in 2024. However, there is a ray of hope in sight: a slight surplus of teachers could not arise until 2033.

The path to new teachers

Career career changers are now particularly well received. A press release from Federal Statistical Office shows that in the 2021/22 school year, 8.6% of teachers at general education schools were already teaching without a recognized teaching qualification. The proportion has increased steadily since 2011, indicating the increasing need to find new ways to combat the teacher shortage. This development is not only important for the schools in the Uecker-Randow region, but also reflects the challenges facing educational institutions nationwide.

Given the increasing number of students due to the baby boom in the 2010s and an increasing number of young people aiming to graduate from college, it is clear that the need for teachers is not just demographic. The lack of cross-state coordination in teacher training and the different approaches to teacher training in the federal states make the situation even more complex. The pressure on schools is growing, and with the willingness to find new ways, one or two problems could still be solved.

In the Uecker-Randow region, teaching is a sought-after job that offers many opportunities for career changers. Whether with formal training or as a career changer - the opportunity to open the door to education for young people is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity.