A shortage of teachers in Görlitz: Students bring a breath of fresh air in schools!

A shortage of teachers in Görlitz: Students bring a breath of fresh air in schools!

In the Saxon city of Görlitz, an exciting pilot project for prospective teachers from the Technical University of Dresden will begin next Friday. As part of the "Alternative Teacher Office", 45 students will teach in the next 28 weeks, every Friday, at various high schools in Görlitz, Löbau, Neusalza-Spremberg and Zittau. The aim of this initiative is to counteract the ongoing lack of teachers in the region. Dr. Anke Langner, professor of educational sciences with a focus on inclusive education, explains that it is a collaboration with the Görlitz district councilor.

The project not only helps the teachers who are relieved, but also to the students who benefit from a more structured school day. The project classes work with a reduced four-day week, with the students taking over the lessons on Friday. This leaves teachers more time for preparation, for example for exams in the higher classes. "We have a clear advantage here," says Langner, "Less lessons and targeted support for the learning of the students.".

The role of the students and their experiences

Although the students are at the beginning of their academic training, they bring valuable help in the classrooms. By working in groups, they support the students in various tasks, especially in subjects such as mathematics and English. "A lack of understanding of reading can lead to problems in any subject. We want to tackle this in a targeted manner," explains Langner. This is particularly important because numerous studies have shown residues in this area.

A remarkable aspect of the project is that two thirds of the students from the first phase, which took place from May to mid -June, were again there. You have appreciated the practical experience and see it a sensible addition to your theoretical training. "It is important that the theory is also to be understood in practice," report the participants, which shows that the project also has a positive effect on future teachers.

meaning for the region and challenges

Another interesting point is that many students do not come from the region. Out of 13 current participants are only two from Görlitz, the others from Brandenburg, Thuringia and the surrounding area of ​​Dresden. Some of them have already expressed interest in accommodation to get to know the region better, which could possibly influence their decision to stay in the area.

However, the implementation of the project faces challenges. Financially it must be ensured that students who have already completed their compulsory internship can participate in the internship. The search for accommodations for the students is an additional hurdle, since there is not sufficient range of housing in all cities.

Some teaching students also had difficulty reserving their Friday for this internship, which influenced the selection of participants. Despite these hurdles, the feedback is predominantly positive, and both schools and city administrations show great interest in cooperation.

Overall, this project could not only defuse the structural challenges of teacher lack in the coming months, but also increase the attractiveness of the profession for students in the long term. For more information about the background and conception of this exciting project, we refer to further details at www.saechsische.de .