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Saxony’s Education Minister Hits 200 Schools but Faces Persistent Classroom Crises

From daycare centers to grammar schools, Clemens’ year-long tour exposes deep-rooted struggles—and bold new solutions. But will they be enough to fix Saxony’s broken classrooms?

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At the bottom of this image, there is a child sitting. Beside this child, there is a glass window....
At the bottom of this image, there is a child sitting. Beside this child, there is a glass window. On the right side, there is a pillar. Through these glass windows, we can see there is a train on a railway track. Beside this railway track, there is another railway track, there are plants, buildings, electric lines, poles and sky.

Culture Minister Continues Tour of Schools and Kindergartens - Saxony’s Education Minister Hits 200 Schools but Faces Persistent Classroom Crises

Saxony’s Education Minister Conrad Clemens has now visited 200 schools and daycare centres across the region. The milestone marks a year since he launched his school tour, aiming to connect directly with teachers, parents and pupils. Meanwhile, new figures reveal ongoing challenges with class cancellations and staff shortages.

Since the tour began, Clemens has covered a wide range of institutions. His visits include 20 daycare centres, 46 primary schools, 55 secondary schools and 45 grammar schools. He has also met staff at 12 special-needs schools, six comprehensive schools, two after-school care centres, and 13 vocational training centres.

The minister stresses that these visits are about more than just numbers. He believes face-to-face discussions offer deeper insights into the daily struggles and successes within classrooms. His approach reflects a broader effort to tackle Saxony’s education challenges head-on.

Class cancellations remain a persistent issue. In the first half of the 2024/2025 school year, 9.4% of scheduled lessons were called off, with rates varying by classroom and location. Teacher shortages stand as the biggest hurdle, with 1,154 positions left unfilled as of November 2024. No single school authority or region has been singled out as the worst affected during that period.

In response, Clemens rolled out new measures in winter 2025. These include extending teaching hours for experienced staff, boosting digital learning options and encouraging more interdisciplinary lessons. The ministry has also pledged to reduce cancellations, though no specific targets have been set.

The school tour will continue as planned, according to the ministry. Clemens’ visits highlight both the scale of Saxony’s education challenges and the steps being taken to address them. For now, teacher shortages and class disruptions remain key concerns for the coming year.

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