Professor Thiel, parents with school children are very annoyed this winter.

Lessons are constantly cancelled.

But if you read the recommendations of the Standing Scientific Commission of the Conference of Ministers of Education, of which you are co-chair, on the subject of teacher shortages, it becomes clear: We are only at the beginning of a catastrophe.

Julia Schaaf

Editor in the "Life" department of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper.

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I once said carelessly that we are in a situation that should be discussed in a similar way to climate change.

That's maybe a bit of an exaggeration.

But we have to realize that the generation of students who are in the school system now and in the years to come must expect their chances of life and integration to be significantly impaired if we don't take countermeasures.

How many teachers are missing?

According to forecasts, by 2030 we will be short of 30,000 to 40,000 teachers.

To be specific: in North Rhine-Westphalia, there are more precise figures, only one-fifth of the demand for physics is then covered.

Of five students who should have physics lessons, only one gets it?

no

Physics classes will continue.

The lessons are then taught in a different subject, by students – or however you plug the holes.

What would be so bad about it if children didn't have physics anymore?

Listen!

We already have a great shortage of young people who are interested in computer science, but also in technical professions.

Physics is an absolute requirement.

Incidentally, the shortage also affects chemistry.

And math.

special education.

Art.

And English in secondary school.

Is it the same for high school as it is for elementary school?

no

There is sometimes even overcapacity at the Gymnasium.

For this reason, some federal states qualify secondary school teachers for primary school.

Those affected do not like that very much, especially since it can be associated with a lower career and a lower starting salary.

The Standing Scientific Commission therefore says: Whoever does this must ensure that the incentives are right.

But you would also like teachers to be more flexible?

The history teacher, who prefers to teach an advanced course at the humanistic high school, should make friends with the troubled school?

School and education policy must deploy teachers where there is a need, otherwise the supply is not guaranteed.

We also recommend seconding teachers from well-served regions to regions with severe teacher shortages.

One sentence in your recommendations published on Friday particularly frightened me: "The problem of teacher shortages is likely to persist for the next 20 years." Why?

The number of applicants at the universities in general and also for teacher training courses is declining because the low-birth cohorts are currently taking their Abitur.

At the same time, there is a wave of retirements.

The situation will only ease again when the eight-year-olds start their studies or have finished them.

What did education policy do wrong?

There is little point in discussing bad forecasts and the question of responsibility.

More importantly, what do we need to do now to ensure that this generation of children receive acceptable education?