Education Ministry: Fewer Classes Disrupted in 24/25 Academic Year
Schools witnessing a decline in canceled hours due to Ministry's interventions - Authorities: Reduced School Absences Reported
Here's a down-to-earth take on the education scene in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern:
According to Education Minister Simone Oldenburg, the 2023/24 school year saw fewer disruptions in classrooms across the region. In public administration-managed schools, just 3.3% of lessons were canceled, Improving upon the previous academic year.
The disruptive classes were most prevalent at comprehensive schools with 6% and regional schools with 4.8%. At gymnasiums, it was 3.8%, special needs schools 1.6%, and primary schools a mere 0.9%.
Teachers being unwell, or their kids falling ill, were the leading causes for this education hiccup.
In vocational schools overseen by public administration, 7.6% of all classes got canceled, a minor decrease from the 2022/2023 school year. Oldenburg pointed to tense staffing conditions.
Roughly 13.9% of lessons were covered by a substitute teacher or when classes were combined in the 2023/24 school year, slightly less than the previous year. Vocational schools accounted for 13.8% of these lessons.
Classes were combined, and overtime was worked by teachers to avoid cancelations. Additional support came from part-time workers, trainees, and retired, as well as student teachers.
Oldenburg cited teachers and their children being ill as the primary reasons for cancellation and substitution. Additionally, factors such as maternity leave, bans on employment for pregnant teachers, or parental leave were factors. Notably, the number of hours teachers had to cover due to their children's illnesses doubled since the 2018/2019 school year. A positive sign, Oldenburg points out, of teaching staff rejuvenation in MV.
- The Education Ministry in Oldenburg attributed the decrease in classroom disruptions in the 2023/24 academic year to the improved community policy.
- The highest percentage of lesson cancellations was observed in comprehensive schools and regional schools, while primary schools had the least disruptions.
- In public administration-managed vocational schools, illness was a notable cause for class cancellations, accounting for 7.6% of all classes in the 2023/24 school year.
- In the field of health-and-wellness and education-and-self-development, a rise in the number of hours teachers had to cover due to their children's illnesses was noticeable since the 2018/2019 school year.
- The General News highlights that teachers, part-time workers, trainees, retired teachers, and student teachers all contributed to covering classes and avoiding cancellations.
