At Bavaria’s schools, 2.37 percent of the teachers are currently absent due to a corona infection. Among the students, the proportion is 0.66 percent, said Minister of Education Michael Piazolo (FW) on Tuesday after a cabinet meeting. However, since the reason for the absence is often not given in comparison to the teaching staff, the latter value remains imprecise. In absolute numbers it is about 2300 teachers. Several measures, including the Corona pot with so-called team teachers, are being used to fill this gap. Piazolo defended the principle of “as much normality as possible” – the omission of the mask, for example, is “profitable” for foreign language teaching; or for elementary school students, as the children see a teacher pronouncing words.
A circular from his ministry recommends masks in meeting areas, and wearing them voluntarily is “due to teachers’ or students’ own sense of security,” said Piazolo. Ventilation in classrooms and air filters had a supporting effect. The filters are owned by the municipalities, so they have to decide on their use, for example against the background of energy costs. There are no plans to order masks or tests again, said Piazolo, the corona situation gave no reason to do so. State Chancellery Minister Florian Herrmann (CSU) added that the Ministry of Health is still observing the pandemic with comprehensive monitoring. The situation is “so stable” that one can “deal with it sensibly”.
Piazolo also addressed the 2021 IQB education trend presented in Berlin. There, Bavaria’s fourth graders are in first or second place nationwide in all categories, including reading and arithmetic. “Pleasing at first glance,” said Piazolo, but compared to the 2016 and 2011 studies, there has been a decline in skills. It is unclear whether this is a result of the lockdowns or a development independent of Corona. In any case, it is still important to do “homework”, with the programs to catch up on learning deficits, the Free State is active here. The minister pointed out that countries that have conservative governments and stick to the structured school system – and differentiated teacher training – are at the forefront. Two weeks ago, a push by Söder triggered debates. At an event, the Prime Minister spoke about the vision of a new teacher training course, the graduates of which could start at all types of secondary schools. Piazolo is not considered a supporter of such reform ideas.
On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers also dealt with a strategy so that “the culture of digitality becomes the new normal” in schools. There are currently 63,000 “digital classrooms”, almost 300,000 rental digital devices for students and 110,000 devices for teachers. With the next round of funding until 2023, “full equipment” should initially be achieved for the teachers’ devices. Digital Minister Judith Gerlach (CSU) presented an app developed by her house that playfully conveys media skills. This is already very popular in schools. According to Gerlach, it is about “not only glorifying digitization”, but also pointing out the risks – such as fake news or cyberbullying. Criticism came from the opposition. 300,000 devices for 1.6 million students are “far too few”, criticized Simone Strohmayr (SPD). Max Deisenhofer (Greens) called “self-praise” out of place in view of the “numerous construction sites” in the digitization of schools.