Education in a Pinch: Less Missed Class Time in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Schools!
Reduction in Lesson Cancellations, According to Ministry - Government Department Advocates for Reduced Student Absenteeism
Yo there! Let's dig into this year's school situation in ol' Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, shall we? It turns out, fewer school hours were skipped compared to the year before, according to the Education Minister, Simone Oldenburg. In public-managed schools, only 3.3% of instructional hours were missed - that's a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from the previous year!
Now, hold up for a sec, the schools with the most hours missed were comprehensive schools (6%) and regional schools (4.8%). On the lower end, we've got gymnasiums (3.8%), special schools (1.6%), and primary schools (0.9%). What gives, though? Sick days! That's right, teachers or their kiddos falling ill was the main reason for those missed classes.
Hey, let's not forget about the vocational schools, either! They managed to miss just 7.6% of all teaching hours – a tiny bit less than the previous school year. Oldenburg chalks this up to a challenging staff situation. As for the coverage of missed hours, the number stood at 13.9% in the 2023/24 school year, a slight drop from the previous year. At vocational schools, that number was 13.8%.
Now, you might be wondering how they managed to make up for lost hours, huh? Well, teachers put in some overtime, yep. The government even gave teachers a financial incentive to work extra hours, according to Oldenburg. Retired teachers, student teachers, part-time teachers, and interns also contributed by taking some of those missed classes. Combining classes and courses is another way they covered the gaps.
I guess Oldenburg figured all those sick days and vacations added up quick, because the number of hours that had to be covered due to teacher or student illness doubled since the 2018/19 school year. But, hey, the silver lining? Those teachers getting a bit older in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with more of 'em pulling up sticks and getting a fresh start!
Now, before you say it, let's not forget that this trend isn't unique to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Many German states have been grappling with similar staffing and teaching schedule issues[1]. But remember, knowledge is power, and staying informed is half the battle!
- Simone Oldenburg
- Lessons
- Teachers
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- School year
- Children
- Main reason
- Shortage of teachers
- Substitute teachers
[1] - Overall, the rate of missed school hours and substitute teaching in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern schools has notably increased in recent years due to factors such as a teacher shortage, increased absences, difficulties in finding substitute teachers, structural changes in school types, and regional and demographic challenges. This trend reflects a broader challenge affecting many German states (BMBF, 2022).
Science and health-and-wellness can play a role in improving community policy regarding vocational training in schools. For instance, implementing scientifically-backed health programs could help reduce the number of sick days among teachers and students, thus decreasing the need for vocational training make-up hours. Additionally, vocational training programs could include courses on health and wellness to help students develop good habits and reduce absences, thereby improving overall school attendance and productivity.
