Shortage of teachers in Salzburg: Unacceptable framework conditions for students on premature school work
Salzburg (OTS) – The teacher education reforms of 2014-2016 meanwhile ensure a long predicted teacher shortage in schools. And, as is so often the case, the gaze from politics and schools turns to student teachers who are now supposed to step in at schools before the end of their studies.
In doing so, it is often forgotten that you are at school under certain circumstances and that politics has still not made it easier for the study system and career entry.
Anyone who goes to school before the end of their studies faces many challenges:
- Short-term assignments to schools, short-term changes in workload and hours
- No consideration for study courses, commuting times and the double burden of work and study
- Despite studying and working, an induction phase with additional courses and further training on top of it is mandatory
- Often work in schools other than the subject or, for example, in other school levels than your own studies
- Employment outside the subject or employment at other school levels is often not recognized for internships during studies – even if you are employed full-time
- Wannen students have to complete their master’s degree for 5 years despite having a job – the responsibility rests solely with the students
- In full-time the total study time is already very long (6 years in the secondary level, 5 years in the primary level)
Student teachers are already working in the summer school without pay, because politics does not want to see this as paid work. Student teachers should help in voluntary tutoring and social projects, through associations and the university. Student teachers are in demand everywhere, but quickly nowhere are they paid properly or faced with supportive framework conditions.
“As students, we should always be the emergency nail in the system – whether during the summer school or when there is a shortage of teachers. But there is no payment for work in the summer school. However, anyone who takes on a teaching job before the end of their studies faces an unbelievable number of challenges: School and employment take no account of the current studies, short-term transfers or additional hours cause study delays despite ongoing deadlines and tuition fees
“Reports Juliana Naglmayr, chairwoman of the ÖH PH Salzburg and already active in the school service.
“The study must urgently be shortened, and the triple burden of school service, study and induction phase must urgently be eased for students in school service. As a teaching representative, due to the current framework conditions, we cannot recommend anyone to start school before the end of their studies – although the positions are being advertised desperately and the lack of teachers is already on their doorstep
“, Adds Maximilian Wagner, 2nd deputy. Chairman of the ÖH PH Salzburg.
Inquiries & contact:
University representative of the Salzburg University of Education
Maximilian Wagner
2nd stw. Chairman
0677 61305573
chairmanship hv@phsalzburg.ac.at
www.oeh-phsalzburg.at