New Teacher Training Program at Chemnitz University of Technology

A new teacher training programme for secondary schools has launched in Saxony. The initiative, starting in October 2025, comes as the region prepares for a significant drop in student numbers over the next 15 years. Officials have described the move as a strategic step to adapt to changing educational needs.

The programme is a joint effort between the Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur (HTWK) Leipzig, the Saxony Ministry of Science, and the Saxony Ministry of Education. It will train future teachers in six key subjects: mathematics, English, economics, technology, and home/social studies.

Up to 60 students can enrol in the new course at Chemnitz University of Technology from October. Practical training and internships will take place mainly in Chemnitz, Central Saxony, and West Saxony. This focus aims to strengthen education in Southwest Saxony, where demand for qualified teachers remains steady. The agreement was formally signed by Saxony’s Minister of Science, Sebastian Gemkow, Minister of Education Conrad Clemens, and TU Chemnitz Rector Gerd Strohmeier. Clemens highlighted the programme as a positive development for students in the region. Meanwhile, universities will adjust their teacher training capacities in response to projections showing up to 20% fewer school-aged children by the 2040/2041 academic year.

The new programme will help maintain teacher supply in areas where demand persists, despite an overall decline in student numbers. With training focused on key subjects and regional placements, Saxony aims to ensure a steady pipeline of educators. The first cohort of students will begin their studies in October 2025.