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Board of Education due to "shortage of teachers" ... February 17, 12:16

" There is no homeroom teacher

in the new semester. The vice-principal will act as substitute homeroom teacher.

" "Impact of.

With the survival of local schools on the line, boards of education across the country are making desperate efforts to secure teachers, such as "raising starting salaries," "improving training," and "recruiting activities in other local governments."

Why is there a shortage of teachers in the first place?

Will the measures being taken lead to a solution to the teacher shortage?

I interviewed the exploration of the site.

(Social Program Department Director Morisuke Fujita / Social Department Reporter Sayaka Noshu)

Move in and become a teacher!

Tokushima Prefectural Board of Education held an event in Tokyo

"Let's become a teacher in Tokushima!"

An event sponsored by the Tokushima Prefectural Board of Education was held for two days in a corner of a hotel in Shibuya, Tokyo.

The number of applicants for the teacher employment examination held in Tokushima Prefecture in 2022 was the lowest in the past 10 years, at 1,175.

The prefectural board of education felt a sense of crisis about the number of applicants, which had decreased by 25% compared to 10 years ago, and the shortage of teachers.

We invited a wide range of participants, not only those from Tokushima, but also those who had no connection to Tokushima, and even those who did not currently have a teaching license.

At the beginning of the event, the person in charge of personnel affairs from the Prefectural Board of Education performed the "Awa Odori" dance, hoping that people would know the charm of Tokushima.

In Tokushima, Awa Odori is taught in physical education classes, so the teachers practiced the dance during training sessions for new students, and used their bodies to publicize the characteristics of the region.

The two-day event was attended by 50 people, including university students from Tokushima studying at the Faculty of Education, working couples considering changing jobs or moving, and people with no connection to Tokushima.

A woman from Tokushima who lives in Tokyo

: “I am currently teaching English conversation, but I wanted to become a teacher in my hometown someday, so it was a good opportunity. I feel better and have more motivation.”

Hiring events for university students have been held in the prefecture and neighboring prefectures, but he said that he felt a sense of crisis about the difficult situation and moved to this project to take more proactive measures.

Tokushima Prefectural Board of Education Educational Personnel Division (Elementary and Junior High School Personnel) Hideyuki Kamata, General Manager

“In a small prefecture in a rural area where the population is steadily declining, it will be difficult just to wait for teachers to become teachers. There are people who take the exams, but it becomes a “scramble for applicants” with other local governments, and the reality is that many people decline even if they pass

. I hope that we will be able to find excellent human resources, and that we will be able to smoothly welcome applicants to Tokushima while guiding them through the prefecture's immigration policies."

Some regions call on middle and high school students to “become teachers in the future”

For the past 10 years, Shizuoka Prefecture has been holding seminars aimed at junior and senior high school students to convey the appeal of the teaching profession.

We are trying to deepen understanding of the work of teachers by holding discussions with young teachers as panelists and talking about how they spend their days.

In order to become a teacher, it is necessary to obtain a teacher's license.

To date, approximately 2,300 students and their parents have participated in an initiative to encourage the generation about to enter university to consider teaching when deciding on a career path.

Why is there a "teacher shortage" in an era of declining birthrate?

Why is there a shortage of teachers in the first place?

There are several reasons for this.

According to surveys by the national and local governments, a large number of veteran teachers are retiring in recent years.

This is because teachers who were recruited in large numbers to accommodate the second baby boomer generation born in the early 1970s are reaching retirement age.

The number of new recruits is increasing to fill the gap, and the school is “rejuvenating”.

Currently, these young teachers are approaching the time to take maternity leave and childcare leave, the number of teachers taking sick leave is increasing, and the need for special support classes is increasing, so there is a shortage of teachers. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology explains.

There are not enough pinch hitters “lecturers” at schools

That being said, there must have been teachers who took leave of absence for some reason before, so why hasn't the shortage of teachers become a problem until now?

According to experts, there are non-regular teachers called "lecturers" and customs unique to the educational world.

If you want to become a teacher at a public school, you must obtain a teacher's license and take the "Teacher Employment Examination" conducted by each local government.

If you pass, you will be hired as a regular teacher and will be able to teach.

On the other hand, those who fail the exam are urged to register as "lecturers" by the board of education of each municipality.

If there is a vacancy at the school, they will become non-regular teachers for a limited time, so to speak, "pinch hitters".

In the era when the ratio of teacher recruitment exams was high, many people failed the exam, and as a result, there were many registered teachers.

One day, out of the blue, I received a phone call from the board of education asking me to start working immediately.

Currently, the ratio of recruitment exams is decreasing, the number of unsuccessful applicants is decreasing, and the number of registered instructors is decreasing.

This is in the form of a "shortage of teachers," which puts an additional burden on schools, and there are concerns about the impact on children.

Seeking to secure teachers ``Increase starting salary'' ``Recruiting activities during consecutive holidays''

Last year, the recruitment ratio for public elementary, junior high and high school teachers was 3.7, the lowest ever.

A national survey shows that there is a shortage of more than 2,000 teachers, and the competition among boards of education for teachers is accelerating.

[Okayama City] Salary increase for first-timers 2,500 yen per month for 5 years

Okayama City has been working on improving the working environment for some time.

Starting this spring, it has been decided that newly appointed teachers will be paid 2,500 yen a month in addition to their salaries for five years after they are hired.

In addition, 1,000 yen will be paid to instructors every month until the end of the fiscal year when they turn 45.

[Shimane Prefecture] Special exams for U/I-turn workers during long holidays and the end of the year

In Shimane Prefecture, for the first time last year, a “special selection exam” was held for U/I-turn working people during long holidays.

17 out of 24 examinees passed the test during the spring holidays.

Some test takers said, "When I took the exam as a new graduate, the rate was high, and I couldn't become a teacher in Shimane Prefecture even if I wanted to." rice field.

The average age of successful applicants is in the 40s.

In order to secure such teachers who are ready to work, we plan to continue to hold special selection tests.

[Kobe City] "Training" for the last spring break of university

In order to cope with the shortage of teachers, Kobe City hired 451 people this spring, about twice as many as the previous year.

The magnification has decreased from 7.1x to 3.6x.

In response to the increase in the number of new teachers who have just graduated from university, the Kobe City Board of Education has decided to hold classroom lectures and mock classes for the first time, limited to those who wish, in February and March before they start working. Did.

Salary will be paid on an hourly basis during this period.

It is said that 90% of the target participants participated in the event.

Person in charge

: “We have had a training system called “Training for Beginners” so far, but there are many needs to receive it before starting work at school, so we hope to alleviate the anxiety of new teachers as much as possible. increase"

Can the teacher shortage be resolved?

ask an expert

Will these measures lead to a solution to the teacher shortage?

We asked Mr. Masatoshi Senoo, an educational researcher who also served as a member of the Central Council for Education.

Mr. Senoo said, "It is interesting that they are trying to deal with it by taking various measures, but it is difficult to say clearly whether any of these measures are effective. First of all, the actual situation and causes should be looked at head-on by both the board of education and the government." pointed out.

In addition, regarding the "decrease in the number of applicants", which is one of the backgrounds of the problem, there are several timings when people who want to become teachers give up on that path, and they mainly list four.

1 Even if you go to the teacher training course, you cannot complete it because it is "difficult" or "too busy"

2 Even if you get a teacher's license, you will not take the teacher employment examination (get a job in the private sector, etc.)

3 You will fail the examination and will not be registered as a lecturer

4 Work as a teacher, but quit due to problems such as the working environment and treatment

Masatoshi Senoo, Educational Researcher:

"For example, there is a survey result showing that about 30% of those who did not become a teacher, although they obtained a teacher's license, experienced a teaching practice and their aspirations decreased (see chart below). We need to find out what the cause is and take countermeasures.”

Mr. Senoo points out that the system in which instructors cover maternity leave and other periods has reached its limits.

Mr. Senoo

: “Previously, the teaching profession was very popular, and there was a time when the ratio was more than 10 times, and there were many people who wanted to teach even if they were in an unstable position. I think it is generally difficult to understand the situation in which a person is asked to do the same job as a successful candidate

. Regularly hired teachers receive thorough guidance in what is called “initial training,” but in the case of instructors, even if they are new, there is no follow-up from the Board of Education. It was not uncommon for people to be placed in the field without even knowing what they were doing.If we were to make use of the instructors, I think it would be necessary for local governments to support them as part of their efforts.”

The most necessary thing is “environmental improvement for teachers who are currently working”

The “shortage of teachers” has become apparent due to the overlapping of various factors.

Mr. Senoo emphasizes that the most important countermeasure is to look at the teachers who are currently working at schools.

According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 5,897 public school teachers took leave of absence due to mental illness last year, and it is important to create an environment where they can continue to work in good health.

Ms. Senoo

: It is said that one of the reasons for the shortage of teachers is the increase in taking maternity leave and childcare leave, but it is a natural right to take maternity leave and childcare leave, and it cannot be reduced. It is important to increase the number of people who want to become teachers and to prevent current teachers from leaving their jobs. It is meaningful and effective.However,

at present, we have not been able to investigate the reasons why teachers are taking sick leave or leaving their jobs in the first place.Therefore, we cannot take appropriate measures.There is a brake on the lack of teachers. It is important to grasp the actual situation in order to apply

Interview postscript

This time, I heard from various boards of education that they are desperately trying to figure out how to manage the tightrope-walking school.

However, the background of the teacher shortage is extremely complex, and the necessary measures are wide-ranging.

The common thing that the educators who responded to the interview said was that "an investment in teachers is an investment in children, and an investment in the future of Japan."

With that in mind, I felt the need to work on improving the treatment of teachers and the working environment.

Please leave your comments on this article

Morisuke Fujita,

Director of the Social Program Department

Joined in 2011

After working at the Kanazawa and Tokyo metropolitan areas, he is currently in

his current position.

News Reporter

Sayaka Noshu

Joined the Bureau in 2011

After working at the Akita and Niigata Bureaus, started the Social Affairs Section in 2017.

Currently focuses on education and reporting on children.

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