Schools: Reducing absenteeism and modernising curricula

Sachsen’s education minister, Conrad Clemens, has pledged to further reduce classroom absences while modernizing school curricula. Speaking during the introduction of the new academic year in Dresden, Clemens emphasized that achieving this goal remains a top priority. Last year, classrooms saw a reduction of over 20 percent in absence rates, particularly at secondary schools. “That is why our highest priority continues to be ensuring more lessons take place and fewer are missed,” he stated. To address the nationwide shortage of teachers, Saxony plans to increase the number of teacher transfers between schools. In the previous academic year, around 5,000 teachers were temporarily assigned to other institutions with special needs, resulting in a 26 percent decrease in lesson absences at secondary schools. For the upcoming year, officials expect more than 5,000 such transfers. Clemens acknowledged that the biggest challenge lies in fairly distributing available teaching staff across the state. Teacher unions have criticized these transfer programs, arguing they merely shift the problem rather than solve it. Michael Jung, head of the Saxon Teachers' Association, pointed out that while transferred teachers gain experience, their home schools lose stability, such as class leadership and student trust. Burkhard Naumann, leader of the Education and Science Union, added that reducing lesson absences isn’t just about statistics; it involves building relationships, reliability, and predictability, all of which have been significantly damaged. A key component of Saxony’s educational strategy, “Bildungsland Sachsen 2030,” includes updating all 528 school curricula simultaneously for the first time since 2004. The revised syllabi aim to equip students with greater competencies and reflect societal and educational developments. Topics such as democracy, media literacy, and language learning will receive increased attention in the curriculum. The ban on mobile phones in schools has also expanded. Previously restricted to primary schools, the policy now applies up to grade eight. This change reflects broader efforts to enhance focus and discipline among younger students. In terms of staffing, the Ministry of Education reports that 905 new teachers have been hired for the new academic year. Of these, 731 hold standard qualifications, while 157 are career changers and 17 are specialized pedagogical professionals. A total of 87 teachers come from other German states. Clemens noted that Saxony did not lose many graduates to neighboring regions, as most applied for positions in the Leipzig and Dresden areas. Notably, 51 percent of applications were directed toward Leipzig. Enrollment numbers show a slight increase, with the total student count rising from 527,192 to 527,300. There are approximately 37,700 first graders. Public school enrollment slightly declined from 440,394 to 439,900, while private school attendance rose from 86,798 to 87,400. The number of public schools remained steady at 1,388, while the number of independent schools increased from 429 to 432.