EU teacher shortage: Low pay blamed
Teacher shortages are a growing problem in European Union countries, with low pay a major factor, according to a new analysis.
The analysis, published by EuObserver, found that only 7% of teachers in the EU are under 30, and almost half are over 50. This is due in part to the fact that teacher salaries have not kept pace with rising prices, even though they have been increased regularly.
Germany is expected to need 25,000 teachers by 2025, while Austria is expected to lose 20,000 teachers to retirement in the next four years.
The contrast in salaries between different EU countries is stark. For example, the gross annual starting salary of a teacher in Germany is €54,000, while a teacher in Bulgaria earns around €7,740 a year.
Even in countries with relatively high teacher salaries, such as Denmark, there are concerns about a shortage of teachers. The Danish education system is estimated to face a shortage of almost 13,000 teachers by 2030.
The teacher shortage is also a problem in Eastern European countries such as Moldova, where the salary of a young specialist is 50% lower than in Romania.
Education and Research Minister Dan Perciun said that the Moldovan government is aware of the teacher shortage and is taking steps to address it. However, he warned that it will be difficult to attract and retain teachers without offering higher salaries.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
