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German School Principals Face Dire Conditions
A survey reveals alarming conditions for school principals in Germany, highlighting teacher shortages, excessive workload, and unfilled positions.
German
Germany
HealthGermany Labour MarketEducationSurveyWorkloadTeacher Shortages
Vbe (Verband Bildung Und Erziehung)ForsaGerman School Leadership Congress
Stefan Behlau
- What is the situation regarding unfilled teaching positions in NRW schools?
- Many schools in NRW are struggling with unfilled teaching positions; 55% have at least one vacancy. 17% have one unfilled position, 17% have two, and 21% have three or more. Many schools also employ individuals lacking teaching qualifications.
- Which organization commissioned the survey and where were the results presented?
- The VBE (Verband Bildung und Erziehung) commissioned the Forsa survey, presenting its findings at the German School Leadership Congress in Düsseldorf. The results highlight alarming conditions and call for improved working conditions for school principals.
- What are some of the key stressors identified by school principals in the survey?
- The survey highlights significant stress factors for school principals in NRW, including societal expectations for schools to solve all problems and increasing administrative burdens. A lack of resources and personnel for full-day care implementation (starting 2026) further adds to the strain.
- Despite the challenges, what percentage of school principals in NRW report enjoying their job?
- Despite the challenges, 83% of NRW school principals still enjoy their work. However, they rate the NRW school policy with a 4.2 (on a scale of 1-6, with 6 being the best).
- What percentage of school principals in NRW would not recommend their job, according to the survey?
- A recent survey of 1311 German school principals reveals that 46% in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) would not recommend their job, the worst result since 2018. Teacher shortages are the biggest problem, cited by 64% of respondents.