Some 5800 teachers were recently absent in North Rhine-Westphalia: Now the country wants to remedy the deficiency by hiring foreign skilled workers, including refugees. This emerges from the answer to a small request of the SPD to the state government.
One must exhaust all available resources, writes in it Minister of Education Yvonne Gebauer (FDP). "Foreign teachers who have come to our country in recent years are such a precious resource that remains largely untapped."
It is also being considered that the "Compensatory measures for full teaching qualification" provided for teachers from the European Union (EU) should also be open to third-country teachers, according to the letter. The Ministry for School and Education in North Rhine-Westphalia was unable to provide further information on this subject at the request of SPIEGEL.
Normally, teachers in Germany complete a degree course and a subsequent traineeship - now applicants should also be able to qualify on alternative paths.
Two North Rhine-Westphalian universities are already offering the "Teachers Plus" program, which is aimed specifically at foreign teachers. It should facilitate their entry into the German school system - the course includes an intensive language course and an "educational-intercultural qualification".
At the University of Bochum, however, only 25 places would be available - but it would have applied 235 people on it. Also in Bielefeld the situation was similar. "Not using this teacher potential and thus accepting lesson attendance can and should no longer be tolerated," writes the Minister.
Foreign teachers already have the opportunity to qualify for the German job market. For example, degrees that correspond to German teacher training can be recognized. Even a side entry is possible - if the applicant can prove a university degree in at least two subjects. In this case, candidates must complete a part-time preparatory service.
Nationwide there is a lack of teachers: By 2030 is to be expected with an average recruitment of just under 32,000 teachers per year, calculated the Conference of Ministers of Culture last year. Especially at the elementary schools staff is already missing. This often eliminates lessons.