Increasingly, educators are stepping into multiple roles
In Wiesbaden, approximately 77,600 teachers out of a total of 739,500 did not possess a recognized teaching certificate in a recent period. This figure includes both career changers and lateral entrants, as school statistics do not distinguish between the two categories.
The proportion of career and lateral entrants at vocational schools was 16.6% in the school year 2015/16, with 20,600 of 122,500 teachers lacking a recognized teaching certificate. Interestingly, the proportion was lower among general education school teachers during the same year, at 4.5%, amounting to 667,400 teachers in total.
Over the past decade, Germany has seen a trend towards higher qualification requirements for teachers. Many federal states now require a master's degree or successful completion of the state examination as the standard condition for entering the teaching profession. This is part of educational reforms aimed at aligning teacher qualifications more closely with higher education standards.
However, there is no direct publicly available data that specifically quantifies the increase in teaching graduates with a master's degree or state examination over the past decade. For precise numeric data on this increase, official German education statistics from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) or ministries of education at the state level would be the authoritative sources.
Despite the challenges in quantifying the increase, it is evident that the number of teaching students passing final examinations has decreased by 12.6% compared to ten years ago. On a positive note, the demand for qualified teachers remains high, and the number of new students in teaching degree programs has increased slightly after a decline in previous years.
In the academic year 2023, around 46,400 people started a teaching degree, representing a 2.4% increase compared to the previous year. Similarly, around 29,000 teaching students passed the corresponding final examinations in 2023, marking a slight increase of 300 students compared to the previous year.
In the school year 2023/24, the proportion of career and lateral entrants at vocational schools remains at 16.6%. Furthermore, 123,800 teachers at vocational schools did not have a recognized teaching certificate.
For more information, please contact Ralf Schick at 0711 66601 185 or via our website. It's important to note that lateral entrants are individuals who do not have a completed teaching degree and are taken into the teaching service without completing the actual training period (reference period).
In conclusion, while there are challenges in quantifying the increase in teaching graduates with higher qualifications, it is clear that Germany is moving towards higher standards for teacher education and certification. The demand for qualified teachers remains high, and efforts are being made to attract and retain a skilled workforce in the teaching profession.
- To meet the higher qualification requirements for teachers in Germany, many individuals may be considering furthering their education in career-development programs, such as pursuing a master's degree or completing the state examination, to increase their chances of entering the competitive teaching profession.
- As the demand for qualified teachers remains high, the growth in career-development and education-and-self-development programs could play a significant role in providing the necessary skills and certifications for individuals seeking to start or advance their career in teaching, contributing to the overall career-development of the teaching profession.
