Teacher Facing Discipline for Alleged TV Appearances During Sick Leave

A teacher's TV appearances during sick leave spark disciplinary action. Critics call for better fitness assessments as 1,388 school employees remain on extended leave.

, and Administrator

2025 October 26 . 7:01 AM

1 min read

The boy in front of the picture wearing grey and black jacket is eating food with chopsticks.... — The boy in front of the picture wearing grey and black jacket is eating food with chopsticks. Behind him,we see children sitting on the chairs. Behind him, we see a wall which is in green and white color. On the right side, we see a white wall on which charts and posters are pasted. Beside that, we see a brown door. Beside that, we see a wall clock. This picture is clicked in the classroom.

Substitute Teacher Allegedly Appeared on Cooking Shows - Teacher Facing Discipline for Alleged TV Appearances During Sick Leave

A teacher in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) faces disciplinary action for allegedly appearing in two TV cooking shows during a nearly year-long sick leave. The Cologne Regional Government has confirmed the proceedings, raising questions about the management of long-term sick leave among teachers.

The teacher, whose exact location of service is not specified, participated in the shows while supposedly unfit for work. The Bezirksregierung Köln launched the disciplinary proceedings after reviewing the teacher's statement. This comes amidst criticism from the FDP, with Franziska Müller-Rech calling for a better system to assess the fitness for duty of teachers on extended sick leave.

Currently, only 55 percent of school teachers on long-term sick leave have undergone an official medical examination. The state government plans to review its procedures following this incident. There are currently 1,388 school teachers on extended sick leave within the Ministry of Education's jurisdiction.

The disciplinary proceedings against the teacher highlight the need for stricter oversight of long-term sick leave among civil servants. The state government's review of its procedures aims to ensure that teachers are fit for duty and that resources are used effectively.