Primary school teachers to come from Lusatia in future

The state of Brandenburg is expanding its capacity to train teachers: Science Minister Dr. Manja Schüle, Education Minister Britta Ernst and the Vice President for Studies and Teaching at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Prof. Dr. Peer Schmidt, today presented plans in Senftenberg (Oberspreewald-Lausitz district) to establish a teacher training program at the university's Senftenberg campus. To this end, the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), in coordination with the Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research (ZeLB) of the University of Potsdam, has developed a concept for a primary school study program in Senftenberg.

The first student teachers for the subject combination of German and mathematics will begin their studies in Senftenberg as early as the winter semester of 2023/24. Planning for the start of the first cohort is currently in full swing. In the coming years, the range of courses and the number of study places are to be significantly expanded. The study and examination regulations have already been drawn up, and the first professorships and staff positions are being advertised. An additional 5.21 million euros will be made available this year and 7.1 million euros next year to expand the capacity of teacher training. A significant portion of the funds will be used to develop the teacher training program at the Senftenberg site. Further information on the study program is available at www.b-tu.de/lehramt-primarstufe-bed.

Science Minister Dr. Manja Schüle: "Education plays an outstanding role in the future viability and resilience of our country. That is why the nationwide shortage of teachers is one of the greatest challenges facing education and science policy, including for us in Brandenburg. This was impressively demonstrated by the most recent teacher model calculation last year. The mandate is clear: We need to build massive new capacity. And that is exactly what we are doing: From the state parliament's decision at the end of November to provide additional funding until the first students enroll in Senftenberg, less than a year will have passed. That is a nationwide record," said Minister Schüle. "And we have chosen Senftenberg deliberately: The decision is an explicit commitment of the state to this location. Senftenberg was an attractive university location, it will continue to be so in the future. Not only because the city has enough suitable premises. And not only because many young people who study here are more likely to choose a school in Lusatia later on. But because this decision is backed by broad support and great enthusiasm: at the BTU, in politics, from many partners, and above all from the people of Senftenberg and Lusatia. From now on, the advertising can begin - my proposal: 'Crass Lusatia, crass well-trained teaching staff - successful studying in Senftenberg'."

Education Minister Britta Ernst: "The schools in Brandenburg are very much looking forward to the new student teachers. We are doing a lot to be able to recruit enough teachers. Higher training capacities at the universities make a significant contribution to attracting well-trained teachers to our elementary schools in our own state. And good teachers lead to good teaching - that's what matters to us. I would like to thank all those involved for their commitment to this wise decision and for making its rapid implementation possible. Good schools once again make Brandenburg a highly attractive location and are an investment in the future."

Prof. Dr. Peer Schmidt, Vice President for Studies and Teaching at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, said, "I am proud that we have succeeded in creating the necessary conditions in an incredibly short time frame of just three months to start teacher training programs in the winter semester of this year. This was only possible with the incredible commitment of my team at the BTU and the great support of our university's committees. We benefited especially from the experience and support of the Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research (ZeLB) at the University of Potsdam. A total of ten professorships are planned at the BTU in the newly founded Institute of Educational Science, five of which we will be advertising shortly. Our new Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) starts with the subject combination mathematics/German. In the coming years, we will successively expand the program to include the subjects of English, art, music, science and physical education. A special focus in the new teacher training program for elementary schools is on educational science and subject didactics. In addition, the students will be enabled to work interdisciplinarily and interdisciplinarily - competencies that they will later impart to their students as teachers. Our study portals for the coming winter semester will open as early as April 20, 2023. Then young people will also be able to apply to the BTU for the teaching profession at elementary schools. The new study offer is a positive signal for Lusatia and against the teacher shortage as well as for strengthening the university location in Senftenberg."

The demand for teachers is calculated on the basis of the state's teacher model calculation. On this basis, the state of Brandenburg has significantly increased the number of first-year teaching places at the University of Potsdam since 2019 from 650 to almost 1,100 bachelor's degree places in the meantime. This is the highest number of student places since the state was established.

Press Contact Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg Press Spokesman Stephan Breiding T (0331) 866 4566 E stephan.breiding(at)mwfk.brandenburg.de