Is the educator shortage resolved post IT scandal?
For two decades, a silent crisis has been unfolding in the education system of Baden-Württemberg. A major IT malfunction in 2005 resulted in 1,440 teacher positions remaining vacant, a situation that has been causing concern among education associations and politicians.
The Ministry of Culture and Finance, along with the State Audit Office, has formed a working group to investigate the cause of the error and improve controls in the area of cultural administration. The ministry has admitted to the IT error being the cause of the unfilled positions, but the outcome of whether all positions will be filled is uncertain.
The error occurred during the data transfer from one software to another, leading to the creation of 'ghost jobs' in the budget. These positions were unfilled due to a lack of applicants prior to the revelation of the IT error. Despite schools in the southwest complaining about staff shortages for many years, the error went unnoticed.
The ghost positions in the budget have played no role, as no funds were allocated for them. However, if all positions were filled, the ministry estimates that it would cost around 120 million euros per year. The government has set aside reserves for unplanned personnel costs, called "Personalglobaltitel", to address this issue.
The education union GEW is demanding that every euro not spent on the schools due to the malfunction should be returned. The association of secondary school teachers estimates ten teaching hours per school if all positions are filled. The government is prioritising the filling of these vacant positions, with special education and counseling centres (SBBZ), elementary schools, and the sick reserve being strengthened.
The ministry spokesman is confident that many of the vacant positions will be filled. However, overcrowded classrooms and cancelled lessons have been attributed to the unfilled positions by FDP faction leader Hans-Ulrich Rülke and some education associations, but the ministry spokesman has disputed this claim.
There is a preference among applicants to work in urban areas, leading to high rejection rates in rural areas. The ministry claims that the applicant situation is better now due to more study places created by the government.
Despite the ongoing efforts to address this issue, the 'ghost job' saga in Baden-Württemberg's education system remains a significant challenge. It serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining robust IT systems and accurate data management in public administration.
The ongoing IT crisis in Baden-Württemberg's education system, highlighted by the 2005 malfunction and subsequent 'ghost jobs,' has raised concerns not only among education associations but also in the political sphere,serving as a call for education-and-self-development and general-news discussions.
The Ministry of Culture and Finance's attempts to fill the vacant teacher positions and improve IT controls are steps towards education reform, demonstrating a need for both technological development and political intervention.
