German vocational teachers face increasing workloads and bureaucracy

Teachers at vocational schools in Germany are facing significant professional challenges due to expanding responsibilities and administrative burdens. Andreas Hemsing, Second Chairman of the dbb, highlighted during a visit to the Commercial Vocational Training Center (KBBZ) in Saarlouis that educators are increasingly being forced to act as youth psychologists and life advisors.

In addition to pedagogical duties, teachers are reportedly overwhelmed by bureaucracy, which diverts resources away from instruction. Hemsing noted that there is currently no compensation for this increased workload through higher pay or adjusted working hours. Furthermore, educators are tasked with addressing educational gaps in incoming students, particularly regarding language skills and fundamental competencies in mathematics and problem-solving.