Teacher Shortage: This is Changing Now for Lateral Entrants
The number of certifications for career-changing teachers at schools is being limited. Only 500 places will be certified per year, the Ministry of Education announced in a release on Wednesday. Additionally, shortage subjects such as German, English, and Mathematics, as well as Sports and Computer Science, will be prioritized in the future, and there will be a unified application window in November for registration.
Previous model for career changers is being redesigned
As part of the Ministry of Education's career change program, graduates of relevant studies receive a regular teaching contract and must complete a career changer study program at a University of Education (PH) alongside their job. A successful certification is a prerequisite for admission - there is a special commission for this. The model, which has been running since 2022 in response to the increasing teacher shortage, is currently available from the secondary level (middle school, AHS, BMHS).
Currently, over 5,000 career changers are already certified. Applications could be submitted throughout the year, and the places are not limited. Certifications are also granted in subjects where there is actually no teacher shortage. In the future, in coordination with the educational directorates, quotas for shortage subjects will be allocated according to regional needs - different subjects are affected by a teacher shortage depending on the region. On average, teachers are especially needed in German, English, and Mathematics, as well as Sports and Computer Science.
Minister of Education Wiederkehr: "Economical and targeted use of resources"
With the new rules, the focus is intended to be more on "those applicants who represent the greatest added value for the schools," it was stated in the release. The unified application window in November is intended to ensure that certifications are completed in time before the start of job postings and that any notice periods in the old job can be observed. If necessary, there will be a second date in the spring.
"The reform, which will apply from the new school year, ensures that we achieve more efficient procedures in recruiting new teachers in this area and an economical and targeted use of resources in certification, making it easier and clearer for applicants to quickly switch to the teaching profession," said Minister of Education Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS).
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.