In the coming years there will be more students in Germany than there have been for a long time.
The high number of pupils meets a worrying lack of performance in the basic skills in arithmetic, writing and reading and an acute shortage of teachers.
In view of these conditions, it is no exaggeration to speak of an acute educational crisis.
It's not the fault of the current students.
They have a constitutionally guaranteed right to education, which the federal states must honor despite everything.
Without an additional burden on the teachers, who after three years of Corona, digitization and inclusion are already working at the limit, it will no longer work.
The countries that have accelerated the shortage through failed training and recruitment policies will have to resort to extremely unpopular steps: They will have to limit part-time employment, which is particularly popular with female teachers, in order to advertise an increase in the workload and, if necessary, even for parents and teachers equally frowned upon larger classes have to set up.
The countries must also be prepared to provide financial incentives for additional burdens.
At the same time, they should relieve the qualified teachers of tasks that others could also do.
Students could correct classwork, social workers could visit students, retirees could take care of timetables.
Teachers shouldn't also be IT and lab assistants.
And they shouldn't bother with collecting class trip fees either.
Impending performance losses can only be averted if qualified teachers can finally concentrate fully on the lesson.
Self-learning may be an option for the gifted and seniors, but it is the worst possible option for the weakest.
You need the well qualified teacher.
Not only politicians, but also parents will have to show him more appreciation.