Fewer Fully Trained Teachers: Students and Career Changers Fill Gaps

In this school year, there was a slight easing of the teacher shortage for the first time, Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) identifies a "renaissance of the teaching profession" due to increased interest in teacher training and career changers. However, the nearly 4,100 open positions in the fall could comparatively rarely be filled with fully trained personnel: Only 44 percent of new hires were teaching graduates, which is fewer than in previous years.

More Students Teaching

In the 2022/23 school year, 56 percent of newly hired educators had full teacher training, compared to 51 percent the previous year, according to figures from the Ministry of Education. The decline is mainly attributed to the compulsory school sector (especially primary and middle schools), where many educators were already employed during their studies in recent years, thus automatically reducing the pool of those who can be newly hired after graduation.

Meanwhile, the proportion of teaching students among new hires has risen significantly to over 27 percent compared to previous years (an increase of six percentage points compared to the previous year). The majority have already completed at least two years of study (120 ECTS), as a first-time evaluation by the ministry shows. For context: Starting next year, teacher training for everyone will consist of three years of a bachelor's degree and two years of a master's degree, while for teaching in secondary schools (middle school, AHS, vocational middle school/BMHS), it is currently still four plus two years.

Career Change at a Low Level

The proportion of career changers has only slightly increased to 12 percent despite a record number of applicants. In the career changer program launched in 2022 in response to the teacher shortage, one can teach at schools with a relevant degree and appropriate work experience at a regular salary but must complete pedagogical training alongside work. Certification by a commission is required, which was previously possible in subjects without a teacher shortage. Since the fall, the number of new certifications is limited, and there is priority for shortage subjects like German or computer science. The proportion of old special contracts for graduates of pure subject studies or teachers for practical instruction at BMHS has slightly decreased.

More Graduates as a Goal

Overall, nearly 4,100 full-time positions were advertised for the current school year, almost 600 fewer than the previous year, and nearly 5,800 people were newly hired. Minister Wiederkehr expressed general satisfaction with the advertisement, stating that the worst phase of the teacher shortage "seems to have been overcome." His next goal is to increase the number of new hires of teaching graduates. "We want to reduce the number of students who are already teaching and ensure in the medium term that the bachelor's degree must be completed before starting employment in schools," he emphasized to the APA.

(APA/Red)

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