Vocational schools in need: SPD accuses state government of cuts!

Vocational schools in need: SPD accuses state government of cuts!

Schleswig-Holstein is on the verge of a decisive change in the education system, and the waves are running high. How star reports, the SPD has criticized the state government massively. MPs in particular are concerned about the cancellation of regional offerings at vocational schools and incorrect job planning, which is putting a severe strain on the training situation in rural areas.

The SPD MP Martin Habersaat emphasizes that the black-green coalition is discriminating against vocational schools through various measures. Cuts in regional training offerings and a centralization of training locations mean that Flensburg construction mechanics, for example, have to travel to Kiel for their training. These developments not only reduce the attractiveness of the training occupations, but also represent a major problem for young people who rely on the vocational schools in their area.

Position planning and student numbers

A central point of criticism is the allocation process for positions in the 2025/26 school year, which has been suspended. Instead, “hiring corridors” are used, which exacerbate the situation for many trained vocational school teachers. Many of them are not kept in the country, which is a negative signal for the coming vintages. The time limit on the tenders is also seen as disadvantageous. The Ministry of Education explains that the corridors serve to adapt the positions to the number of students.

But what does the number of students actually look like for the coming school year? These are not yet known; the school statistics will only be collected between November 10th and 15th. The fact is that a total of 3,891 positions are available for vocational schools, which, given the current situation, is hardly enough to cover the needs of students and schools. In the current school year, only 160 teachers were hired for 103.4 calculated full-time positions, although the number of permanent contracts is relatively low at 40.

The situation of the teachers

The current developments also have an impact on the teachers themselves. The insufficient number of permanent positions and the temporary advertisements make it difficult to build up a stable teaching workforce in the long term. In the long term, this could jeopardize the quality of education at vocational schools and affect the next generation of skilled workers in Schleswig-Holstein.

In a broader context, one could also compare the difficulties encountered by educational institutions with the growing affinity for technology in society. The need for skilled workers in the IT sector is high, and platforms like GitHub show how important it is that young people are encouraged to use such tools at an early stage. Innovative tools and technologies could increase the attractiveness of technical professions and sustainably promote young talent.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the state government will respond to the challenges and what measures will be taken to improve the political education situation in Schleswig-Holstein. One thing is clear: education policy must urgently change so that today's youth have the chance for a promising professional future. A good hand is required here!