Primary school teachers to come from Lusatia in future

The state of Brandenburg is expanding its teacher training capacities: Subject to the budget decision of the state parliament, an additional approximately 5.21 million euros will be made available for this purpose in 2023 and approximately 7.1 million euros in 2024. The Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research (ZeLB) at the University of Potsdam, and the Institute for Further Qualification in Education at the University of Potsdam (WiB) e.V. will work together with the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Education in the coming months to develop a concept for a primary school study program in Senftenberg.

Science Minister Dr. Manja Schüle: "Education plays an outstanding role in the future viability and resilience of our country. This includes, not least, high-quality teaching - but this is not possible without an appropriate supply of teachers. There is an urgent need for action here: the teacher model calculation, which is only a few weeks old, forecasts a significantly further increase in the need for teachers in Brandenburg, especially in the primary school sector. I am extremely grateful to the coalition factions for providing additional funding at record speed so that we can further increase the number of study places, especially in the primary level, which is in high demand. Senftenberg is an excellent location for this: The city not only has suitable premises - the decision also strengthens the university location and the attractiveness of the region: Young people who study here are also more likely to choose a school in Lusatia later on. The first student teachers are to start in Senftenberg as early as the winter semester of 2023/24 - that is my goal. I know that's highly ambitious and puts pressure on all of us. But we need the teachers and we need them quickly. I'm extremely grateful to all partners for their immediate and enthusiastic willingness to work with us to develop a concept for this."

Education Minister Britta Ernst: "This is good news for the schools in Brandenburg. Our forward planning has shown that we will have to recruit around 1,500 new teachers each year in the coming school years. Higher training capacities at universities will help attract well-trained teachers to our elementary schools in our own state. I would like to thank everyone involved for this quick and wise decision. Good schools once again make Brandenburg a highly attractive and livable location. Good teaching is an investment in the future."

Prof. Dr. Gesine Grande, President of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU): "In order to counteract the shortage of teachers and to position Lusatia well for the future, an additional training location in the region is the right way to go. The BTU has many years of experience with pedagogical courses, such as vocal pedagogy at the Sachsendorf site, and can ideally combine this with its expertise in the natural sciences for the elementary school subjects of mathematics and science teaching. We thank the two ministries for their initiative and will support the project with the greatest vigor in order to establish an innovative and attractive course of study at our campus in Senftenberg together with the Potsdam Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research. A great benefit for the BTU, for Senftenberg and the region!"

Dr. Britta van Kempen, Vice President for Teaching and Studies at the University of Potsdam: "The University of Potsdam welcomes the idea of developing a second location for teacher education in the state of Brandenburg. It is happy to contribute its expertise via the Center for Teacher Education and Educational Research (ZeLB). High-quality teacher education at an accredited and thus nationally recognized level requires intensive preparation and time for personnel recruitment. The University of Potsdam supports the planned establishment of a location in Lusatia to the best of its ability."

Prof. Dr. Andreas Borowski, Director of the Center for Teacher Education and Educational Research at the University of Potsdam: "Other states have shown that a second location in the state can be very attractive for student teachers. However, it is important to ensure the quality of the studies from the very beginning, so that the student teachers feel well cared for at the university and are comprehensively prepared both theoretically and practically for the teaching profession. For this reason, the Center for Teacher Education and Educational Research welcomes the project and supports it with its many years of expertise."

Prof. Dr. phil. habil. Bernhard Muszynski, managing director of the Institute for Further Qualification in Education at the University of Potsdam (WiB) e.V., an affiliated institute of the University of Potsdam: "An excellent project for our Flächenland Brandenburg, which will now have two universities to train urgently needed teachers. It is particularly good for the south of the state and an opportunity to address as many applicants as possible with innovative elements and to support their rapid success in their studies. To this end, all education and training resources will be pooled to give teacher education another powerful boost."

Teacher requirements are 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 teacher 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 came into existence.