Schools in Bremen: Cuts massively endanger remedial education!

Schools in Bremen: Cuts massively endanger remedial education!

Things are boiling in Bremen: the education authority is facing a massive storm of criticism. How tagesschau.de reported, the teachers' union GEW and the school management association have heavily criticized the authority. The accusation? Lesson cuts were announced far too late to enable reliable planning for the coming school year. Not only the teachers are affected, but also the students, who particularly suffer from these sudden changes.

The cuts amount to almost 2,400 hours per week, which corresponds to around 90 full teaching positions. According to the education authority, this is an adjustment to the target level of the allocation policy. Education Senator Sascha Aulepp (SPD) emphasizes that the individual support of children will not be affected. But the staff council and the school management association have massive doubts about this statement and speak of a “stab directly in the aorta” for the academics among the students, according to Achim Kaschub, chairman of the school management association.

Risks for remedial teaching

The announced savings primarily affect the funding area: schools have to make do with fewer hourly allocations. While regular teaching hours and inclusion tasks should be secured according to the education authority, there are fears that support offers and double staffing will no longer be available. Teachers report that a survey of school administrators reveals concern about the quality of teaching. Christian Dirbach from the Schools Staff Council explains that 85% of the hours are spent on teaching, which has a severe impact on the support area. This is particularly important in order to cater for children with special needs.

Many schools in Bremen are now in a quandary: They can decide for themselves where they want to make the cuts, which is interpreted by some as an escape from responsibility. The reality is that many schools in socially disadvantaged areas particularly suffer from a shortage of teachers. Current studies show that around 50% of schools in Germany were unable to fill at least one position.

A look into the future

The shortage of teachers is a Germany-wide problem. Forecasts indicate that the need for teachers will continue to increase in the coming years, while the number of new teachers is expected to be lower. The Standing Scientific Commission of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs describes the situation as dramatic and warns of negative effects on the quality of teaching. In particular, students from socially disadvantaged families could be the biggest losers from this development, as reduced teaching times significantly affect their performance.

Bremen is facing a challenge that cannot only be solved through internal resources. Structural changes and a long-term incentive for new teachers are needed in order to counteract the ongoing threat of an educational crisis. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether the education authority will be able to withstand the announced cuts and the associated social pressure.

For the future of Bremen's schools we can only hope that smart minds and creative solutions will be found. Otherwise, the lessons could soon become a pawn in a financial emergency that cannot really benefit anyone.