Brandenburg Students Express Concerns Over Teacher Cuts in State Budget

The proposed state budget for Brandenburg has raised alarms among students regarding planned reductions in educational staffing. The local student council has voiced its disapproval, highlighting the potential negative impact on both teachers and students alike.

According to the spokesperson for the Landesschülerrat, there are no new positions for teachers included in the budget, which is particularly troubling given the existing shortages in the teaching workforce. The number of teaching positions is projected to decrease from approximately 20,800 to 20,542 for the 2025/2026 school year, and further to 20,442 the following year.

Students argue that the lack of funding for schools, coupled with budget cuts, sends a troubling message about the value placed on education. They emphasize that ensuring quality instruction should be a priority for the government, rather than implementing austerity measures in the education sector.

The proposed budget outlines a plan for teachers to increase their teaching hours as a cost-saving measure. However, this would come at the expense of other responsibilities, such as the evaluation of students' behavior, which would now only occur at certain grade levels. This change has been criticized by student representatives, who argue it could diminish the quality of feedback students receive.

Despite the absence of new teaching positions in the budget, there is some indication that additional teachers may still be hired. The state's finance minister has pointed out that there are sufficient funds allocated for personnel, suggesting that hiring could still occur during the upcoming years.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that as of February, around 250 full-time teaching positions were unfilled. The state's education minister reported that approximately 1,000 teachers have either been hired or have received commitments for employment for the next academic year.

Concerns about classroom instruction have been heightened by reports from the education ministry which indicated that nearly 1.7 million hours of instruction were covered by substitute teachers in the previous school year, with over 300,000 hours lost altogether. While the ministry claims that this is not a widespread issue, opposition parties have expressed skepticism about the government's ability to manage the situation effectively.

The opposition, particularly from the AfD and CDU parties, have warned that the ongoing teacher shortages could result in further disruptions to classroom instruction. In a recent government address, the state's premier reiterated the administration's commitment to reducing instances of missed classes, citing a need to stabilize the teaching workforce, especially as more educators are entering the profession through alternative pathways.