Teacher Shortage, Reforms, Time Pressure: What School Leaders Find Stressful - German principals see fewer teacher shortages but face growing policy frustrations in 2025
School principals in Germany are facing fewer unfilled teaching posts this year, but workloads and frustration with education policy continue to grow. A new survey reveals a slight improvement in staffing levels, with fewer vacancies reported at the start of the 2025 academic year. Yet, many headteachers still struggle with heavy administrative burdens and crumbling school buildings.
Despite these challenges, optimism about the future is rising, particularly in the southwest, where concerns over teacher shortages have dropped sharply since 2022.
The latest figures show an average of 0.6 unfilled teaching positions per school at the beginning of the current academic year. This marks an improvement from 1.1 vacancies in 2022. Baden-Württemberg performed better than the national average, with just 0.6 unfilled posts per school compared to 1.4 across Germany.
Teacher shortages remain the biggest issue for nearly half of all principals. However, the percentage expecting severe staffing problems in the southwest has fallen from 81% in 2022 to 55% this year. This cautious optimism suggests a gradual shift in morale, though concerns persist.
Beyond staffing, principals report growing dissatisfaction with education policy. In 2025, 29% ranked it among their school’s top challenges, up from just 10% in 2021. Meanwhile, 84% said their allocated leadership time was insufficient for managing and improving their schools.
Deteriorating school facilities are also worsening. The number of principals citing dilapidated buildings as a major issue has more than doubled, rising from 9% in 2021 to 20% in 2025. Many headteachers describe their workload as overwhelming, compounded by relentless reforms and chronic understaffing.
The survey highlights a mixed picture for German schools in 2025. While teacher shortages have eased slightly, principals still face significant pressures from policy changes, ageing infrastructure, and administrative demands. The cautious improvement in staffing levels offers some relief, but broader challenges remain unresolved.
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