In the future, Hamburg will pay primary school teachers like teachers at high schools
Starting in the new school year, Hamburg’s primary school teachers will earn up to 500 euros more – just as much as their high school colleagues. Personnel costs increase by 48 million euros per year, but the step is the right one, says School Senator Ties Rabe.
Hamburg will in future pay primary school teachers like their colleagues at high schools and vocational schools. Primary and secondary school teachers will also benefit from the change for the new school year, as a spokesman for the school authorities announced on Sunday. 4,200 civil servant teachers and around 800 salaried educators as well as 600 pre-school teachers get a promotion in addition to the extraordinary salary increase. The primary school teachers had already been sent letters of appointment to the “Studierendent” or “Studienrätin”, it said.
Depending on seniority and salary level, a full-time position will add up to 400 to 500 euros a month. A married elementary school teacher with one child and six years of professional experience in Hamburg now earns more than 5,300 euros gross per month, of which 4,000 euros remain net after deducting taxes and social security, the authority spokesman explained as an example.
“The salary increase for teachers in elementary schools and pre-school classes is a major effort, which means that personnel costs will increase by around 48 million euros per year,” said school senator Ties Rabe (SPD) according to the announcement. Nevertheless, the step is correct. Education scientists have long since proven that good primary school pedagogy is just as important for the educational success of children and young people as pedagogy at secondary schools.
Therapists at Hamburg schools will also be better paid in the future. Although their salaries, like those of the educators, would be determined in Germany-wide collective bargaining between the states and unions, Hamburg adjusted the pay in a transitional arrangement.