The "trump card" for securing teachers, what is the reason for the increase in "temporary licenses"? May 5 at 23:15

"If you can find someone with even a little experience..."
is a phrase actually called by the Board of Education by the principal of an elementary school in Fukuoka Prefecture who is struggling to find a teacher. A "temporary license" can be issued when a teacher with an ordinary license cannot be secured. The number of "trump cards" for securing teachers is increasing now. (Fukuoka Broadcasting Station Reporter Ken Fukuhara)

The highest number of "temporary licenses" ever

Have you ever heard the term "temporary license" for teachers?

It is a type of teaching license that can be issued exceptionally by the board of education of each prefecture when it is not possible to secure a teacher with an "ordinary license".

When NHK interviewed prefectural boards of education nationwide about this temporary license, it was found that the number of issuances in the last fiscal year (FY Reiwa 4) was 1,572, exceeding 24,1 for the first time since FY<>, when accurate records are kept.

The breakdown shows that elementary schools account for 4866,2504 cases, followed by high schools with 2172,46 cases, junior high schools with 1073,904 cases, and elementary schools accounting for 704%.

By prefecture, Saitama Prefecture has the highest number of cases with <>,<>, followed by Fukuoka Prefecture with <> cases and Kagoshima Prefecture with <> cases.

As a "trump card" for securing teachers

In Fukuoka Prefecture, which has the highest number of temporary licenses ever issued and the second highest number in Japan, "temporary licenses" have become the "trump card" for securing teachers.

To recruit teachers, we first hire faculty members who have an "ordinary license" obtained by taking the necessary subjects at a university, etc., and assign them to each school.

On the other hand, now that the shortage of qualified teachers is becoming more serious, it is not possible to secure the necessary number of regular and non-regular teachers with ordinary licenses alone.

At that time, the trump card is the "temporary license". For example, in the case of elementary schools, vacancies are filled by issuing "temporary licenses" for elementary schools to those who have an ordinary junior high school license. Fukuoka Prefecture has issued 904 grants, of which more than half are elementary schools, and many of them were issued to people who have junior high school licenses.

The reason why the issuance of temporary licenses is increasing is said to be due to the following by the Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education.

Background of the increase in temporary licenses 1 "Naruto"

The first background is the decline in "becomers."

This is the age distribution of teachers working in public schools in Fukuoka Prefecture. The largest number of people are in their 1s, and mass retirement due to retirement age has continued for at least the last 50 years or more.

For this reason, the Prefectural Board of Education is actively hiring more than the number of retirees, saying, "Let's hire as much as possible."

On the other hand, the image of teachers working busy and long hours, and the fact that there is no overtime pay and only a 4% increase in monthly salary are combined with uncertainties about their treatment, resulting in a shortage of "mentors" in the first place.

Looking at the number of people taking recruitment exams for public schools in Fukuoka Prefecture, we can see that they are decreasing.

In the absence of a successful candidate, the multiplier has decreased due to active hiring. The ratio of the employment examination for elementary schools in Fukuoka Prefecture conducted in FY Reiwa 3 was 1.3 times, the lowest in Japan.

If the ratio is low, those who used to work as non-regular "instructors" will also aim to become regular teachers, and the number of "people who could not pass the recruitment exam" who apply to be instructors will naturally decrease.

As a result, it has led to the issuance of temporary licenses.

Background to the increase in temporary licenses 2 "Number of classes"

What is further compelling is the increase in the number of classes.

This is the number of special needs classes at public elementary and junior high schools in Fukuoka Prefecture. It has increased by about 5,1000 in the five years up to last year.

In addition, elementary schools have begun to implement classes of 35 students, and the number of classes has further increased. While the denominator of the constant number of faculty members is increasing, the number of numerators is not increasing.

In order to overcome this situation, the number of universities where ordinary elementary school licenses can be obtained is limited, and there are only six universities in Fukuoka Prefecture.

For this reason, the number of people who have an elementary school license at the time of graduation remains at about 6, and a larger increase is not expected.

The Prefectural Board of Education is asking the national government to increase the number of students, but the reality is that it is difficult to achieve this now that the birthrate is declining.

Mr. Hidaka:
"The Board of Education does not like to issue temporary licenses, and we believe that it is an unavoidable response in order to continue educational activities."

The voice of the field in the "trump card"

As it becomes increasingly difficult for people with ordinary licenses to secure, temporary licenses are issued as a trump card. I asked him how he perceives the school environment.

A male principal
of an elementary school in the prefecture: "In fact, the school site would not work without a teacher with a temporary license, and the people who came to (my) school were very helpful because they were passionate and had the ability to teach."

In this way, while there were many positive opinions from school principals who were looking for teachers, some teachers said that there were cases where follow-up was necessary, which in turn increased the workload of teachers.

A female teacher
at an elementary school in the prefecture: "A person with a junior high school social studies license came with a temporary license and had the same class, but we ended up doing everything together, starting with making tests.

In addition, since junior high schools are licensed for each subject, for example, there are cases where a person who has a license for subject A teaches subject B without specialization with a temporary license.

A male teacher
at a junior high school in the prefecture: "When I get to junior high school, I have to look ahead to the high school entrance exam, so I have to improve the grades of the children while studying.

"Utilization" of temporary licenses

On the other hand, there is also a movement to open the door for teachers by making good use of temporary licenses.

Teach for Japan, an NPO in Tokyo, is recruiting aspiring teachers regardless of whether they have a teaching license or not, provides necessary training, and then uses temporary licenses to transfer them to schools for two years.

The period of assignment itself is two years, but most people will continue to work in the education field, such as teachers. As of April, more than 2 students have been assigned to the school.

Mr. Katsuhiro Kanazawa of Teach for Japan,
said, "I feel that the temporary license and other systems are being used effectively while being transferred to the school site after thorough training before being transferred, and as a result, it will lead to the solution of the shortage of teachers and a better education for children."

Reducing → "non-license system"

In addition, junior high schools and high schools have used a system called the "Unlicensed Subject Teacher System" that allows teachers working at the same school to teach different subjects for only one year when they cannot secure the necessary teachers.

However, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has been reducing the system since Heisei 1, as it is a problem to conduct classes without a license just because it is the same school.

Along with this, "temporary licenses" that are licenses for conducting classes have been actively issued, which seems to be one of the reasons for the increase.

A person in charge of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said, "It is difficult to make a general statement because the circumstances vary greatly from prefecture to prefecture, but it is necessary to pay close attention to areas with a particularly large number of cases, such as Fukuoka Prefecture."

There are concerns about "easy to exit" temporary licenses

"If you find someone with even a little experience, I'll give you a temporary license,"

a man who works as the principal of an elementary school in Fukuoka Prefecture was told by the Board of Education.

The principal says he is "not surprised" by the large number of grants in Fukuoka Prefecture.

A male principal
of an elementary school in the prefecture: "Nowadays, if you give a piece of paper such as a personal certificate, a temporary license will be issued immediately, so it is understandable that the number of cases is large."

In April last year, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) required that when issuing temporary licenses, "necessary training be provided before and after hiring, as it is assumed that students are not generally familiar with knowledge and skills related to the teaching profession."

On the other hand, there are also sites where "if only people could be found."

Experts are also concerned about the situation that could be perceived as a "request" for a temporary license.

Former professor
: "A temporary license is exactly what it means to give a license to people outside the school or subject, and I think that there is a certain understanding and knowledge of the teaching profession, but I am worried about the specialty. Licensing is such a responsibility, and the structure of issuing temporary licenses to overcome the emergency situation should be a concern."

Local initiatives alone have their limits

An official from the Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education said, "I want you to understand that you don't think the current situation is appropriate."

The Prefectural Board of Education is working to secure teachers by holding seminars for "paper teachers" who only have an ordinary license and holding events to convey the appeal of the teaching profession by visiting universities.

However, there is a limit to what local governments can do alone, and I think that efforts at the national level, such as improving working conditions, are required.

At the general meeting of the Central Council for Education = Central Education Council held on the 22nd of this month, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Nagaoka consulted on the consideration of measures to solve the shortage of teachers, including improving working conditions, such as whether to raise the additional monthly salary of teachers paid in lieu of overtime pay from the current 4%.

I think it is necessary for the national and local governments to work together so that the education of teachers and children in the field will not be strained.

Fukuoka Broadcasting Station reporter
Ken Fukuhara
joined the prefectural government
in 30 years and covered the field of education