Hamburg special schools struggle with severe staff shortages

Special education schools in Hamburg are facing a crisis due to severe personnel shortages. School administrations at two special schools have informed parents that they can no longer fully guarantee the schooling of their students because of insufficient staff.

The Education and Science Senator, Ksenija Bekeris, and the GEW Hamburg union have expressed irritation regarding the situation. Sven Quiring, chairman of GEW Hamburg, emphasized that while the legal obligation to provide schooling remains, the authorities must provide the necessary personnel to meet these requirements under safe and professional conditions.

The union notes that this is a structural issue rather than a sudden occurrence. Years of understaffing and inadequate planning for the intensive support and care required by vulnerable students have led to unfilled positions and cuts in school assistance services. A recent survey of pedagogical and therapeutic staff highlighted high levels of physical strain resulting from these conditions.