Concerns regarding teacher shortages and the future of civil service roles have spurred debate within Germany, with strong reactions emerging from labor representatives. Volker Geyer, Chairman of the Civil Servants’ Association and Tarifunion dbb, has firmly rejected calls for a halt to the permanent employment of teachers.
Geyer emphasized the critical and authoritative nature of the teaching profession, outlining the significant responsibilities educators hold regarding student placement, assessment and graduation outcomes, while also pointing to the existing limitations on their right to strike. He questioned the practicality and potential consequences of a scenario where schools might be disrupted by industrial action.
The suggestion, recently proposed by figures such as CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, to restrict permanent civil service positions to roles such as police officers, judges, prosecutors and those working in finance and customs, was also criticized by Geyer. He argued that the proposals demonstrate a lack of value and respect for the contributions of civil servants.
Furthermore, Geyer voiced opposition to plans by some states to increase teacher working hours. He cautioned that such measures would further diminish the appeal of a teaching career, exacerbating the existing shortfall of over 100,000 teachers. Geyer maintained that the focus should be on creating sustainable working conditions to protect educators from overwork and illness, rather than imposing additional hours.
