Upper Austrian schools still seek teachers before new school year

Schools across Upper Austria are still looking for teachers in the compulsory education sector, ORF reported on Friday, ten days before the new school year begins. The shortages affect primary and middle schools, with “specific regional challenges” reported across the province.

The Upper Austria Education Directorate’s list of vacancies shows that teachers are still needed throughout the province. Most openings are in the main subjects of German, English and mathematics, as well as religious education and science subjects.

The directorate said all positions at academic secondary schools, vocational secondary schools, vocational schools and agricultural schools were generally filled. Applications and staff allocations for compulsory schools are currently under way after the latest vacancy announcement closed on August 31.

“Based on our experience from previous years, we assume that the remaining teaching hours can be covered and that the start of the school year will go well,” the directorate said.

Union warns of hidden staff shortage

The teachers’ union takes a different view, arguing that the figures do not show the full extent of the shortage. Paul Kimberger, spokesman for the teachers’ group in the Public Services Union, told the APA that there was a “huge hidden staff shortage” and an “enormous” volume of overtime.

In the 2023-24 school year, additional teaching duties amounted to the equivalent of 7,000 full-time positions, Kimberger said. Particularly sensitive areas, including special education and urgently needed German-language support, were affected.

Kimberger also called for more teachers with traditional teaching degrees. Last year, 12 percent of new hires were career changers with relevant degrees and professional experience who were completing their teaching qualification while working. The ministry expects career changers to account for 10 percent of new hires this year.

Kimberger said career changers could be a major benefit to schools, but feedback from schools had been mixed overall. Problems had also arisen at schools with particularly high numbers of career changers.