Saxon Teachers Protest Education Minister's Plan to Reduce Class Cancellations

Educators and unions criticize proposed measures targeting older teachers as unfair and counterproductive.

Saxony's Kultusminister Conrad Clemens has proposed 21 measures aimed at halving the state's 9.4% class cancellation rate, including reducing age-related workload adjustments for teachers.
The GEW teachers' union strongly opposes the plan, calling it a heavy burden on older educators and accusing the ministry of ignoring teachers' well-being.
Union leaders argue that the measures fail to address the root causes of teacher shortages, such as insufficient staffing and poor retention strategies, with 1,400 full-time positions currently unfilled in the state.
Critics warn that the proposed changes could lead to lower educational quality, as overburdened teachers may resort to less effective teaching methods like increased reliance on frontal instruction.
The GEW has announced plans for protests and discussions with stakeholders, emphasizing the need for collaborative and incentive-based solutions to improve the education system.