Music Education in Thuringia: The Looming Crisis of Fewer Music Teachers
Music teacher shortage expands beyond MINT subjects in Thuringia - Struggling with Music Education: Thuringia Faces Shortage of Music Instructors
Hey there! Let's dive into the unfortunate situation unfolding in Thuringia—you guessed it—they're running low on music teachers. As we speak, there's a shortage of around 94 teachers for music classes in both primary and secondary schools, according to the Ministry of Education. And it's not a new problem; over the past decade, the number of these positions has shrunk by a whopping 25%.
Now, let's talk about what's causing this, shall we? Turns out, universities worldwide are battling over fewer students eager to take on a music teaching degree. Yup, you read that right! That's the sad truth. As a result, only half of the prospective students accepted into the music teaching program at the University of Music in Weimar actually attend.
But don't fret just yet! The Thuringian authorities aren't sitting idly by, staring at the problem. No siree! They want to fill those teaching positions through continuous education programs, allowing existing teachers to snag a "teaching permit" for the music subject. Recently, 22 individuals took advantage of this opportunity, offered by the Thuringian Institute for Teacher Training. These individuals didn't initially have the qualifications to teach music.
To sweeten the deal, newly hired music teachers can expect special bonuses from the state if they decide to work in regions with an acute teacher shortage. This bonus amounts to ten percent of their starting salary and lasts for five gleeful years! Now, Education Minister Christian Tischner (CDU) is weighing the idea of offering these incentives during the training phase itself.
- Music
- Thuringia
- Education
- Erfurt
- BMBF
In an effort to address the music teacher shortage in Thuringia, the Erfurt-based Thuringian Institute for Teacher Training is providing vocational training to individuals without the initial qualifications to teach music. This is part of the community policy to fill vacant positions in music education. Simultaneously, for those pursuing vocational training in music education-and-self-development and learning, the BMBF plays a vital role in providing guidelines and support.
