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Saxony's bold plan to strip civil servant status from new teachers sparks backlash

A radical reform could reshape Germany's teaching workforce—but critics warn it may worsen shortages. Unions call the timing 'disastrous.'

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1 min read
The image shows a group of people wearing masks and holding signs in front of a building with glass...
The image shows a group of people wearing masks and holding signs in front of a building with glass walls and doors. There are also boards with text and logos, as well as cameras, and a dog at the bottom of the image. The people appear to be protesting, likely in response to the German government's decision to ban the use of masks in schools.

Saxony's bold plan to strip civil servant status from new teachers sparks backlash

Saxony's education minister has put forward a controversial plan to end civil servant status for new teachers from 2030. Conrad Clemens (CDU) argues the current system is outdated and will raise the issue at a national meeting of education ministers. The proposal has already faced strong opposition from unions and at least one other federal state. Clemens intends to present his plan at the upcoming Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs. He wants the change to apply only to teachers hired after 2030, marking a shift away from the long-standing civil servant model.

Maike Finnern, head of the Education and Science Workers' Union (GEW), has criticised the move. She claims the timing is poor, given Germany's ongoing teacher shortage. Finnern also warns that removing civil servant status could make teaching less appealing and create divisions among staff. So far, only Berlin has publicly responded to Saxony's proposal. The city-state has already signalled resistance ahead of the conference. Finnern adds that civil servant status helps attract and retain teachers, calling the plan a step in the wrong direction.

The debate will now move to the national level, where education ministers from all 16 states will discuss the proposal. If approved, the change would mark a major shift in how teachers are employed across Germany. The outcome could also affect efforts to address the country's teacher shortage in the long term.

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