# Teacher shortages in German states > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/teacher-shortages-in-german-states > Updated: 2026-09-17T13:21:42.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 2. German states are experiencing significant teacher shortages affecting various regions and school types. In late August, Berlin and Brandenburg reported high vacancies, with Berlin lacking approximately 500 teachers and Brandenburg facing over 300. Brandenburg officials described the period as the ‘most difficult school year ever’ due to student numbers reaching a 20-year high. Berlin has attempted to mitigate its deficit through a flexible Master’s program and significant infrastructure investment to accommodate growing populations. By mid-September, the shortage was also highlighted in Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Württemberg. In Schleswig-Holstein, the deficit is unevenly distributed, particularly impacting the West Coast. In Baden-Württemberg, the Ministry of Education reported 426 vacancies, with specific shortages in special education and musical-technical subjects. Challenges in these regions include geographic disparities, as schools outside major university cities struggle to attract applicants, and salary differences between primary and secondary school teaching roles. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-17: Teacher shortages impact rural schools in Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Württemberg Teacher shortages in Germany's Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Württemberg are disproportionately affecting rural regions and special education, driven by geographic and salary disparities. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/teacher-shortages-impact-rural-schools-in-schleswig-holstein-and-baden-wrttemberg ### 2026-08-22: Berlin and Brandenburg face teacher shortages at school start Berlin and Brandenburg face record student numbers and significant teacher shortages as the new school year begins, despite Berlin's recent seven-billion-euro investment in school infrastructure. 25 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/police-investigate-commercial-burglaries-in-gtersloh-and-osnabrck --- Cite as: Teacher shortages in German states. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/teacher-shortages-in-german-states