Prime Minister expresses hopes for a successful commencement of the academic year for schools

The new school year has kicked off in various districts across the Münster region, marking a fresh start for over 352,990 students and 7,135 teachers and staff.

In the district of Münster itself, 45,065 students and 3,931 teachers and staff have returned to their classrooms. The district of Recklinghausen welcomes 82,477 students and 7,135 teachers and staff, with 6,245 first-graders starting their educational journey.

The district of Gelsenkirchen, home to 41,288 students, has 3,681 teachers and staff ready to guide them. A total of 2,376 first-graders in the district of Coesfeld and 2,963 in Warendorf are also embarking on their educational journey. The district of Bottrop welcomes 14,453 students, while Steinfurt prepares for 57,692 students. Borken, on the other hand, has 51,014 students returning.

The total number of first-graders in the Münster region stands at 27,738, ready to take their first steps in their educational journey.

To address the ongoing teacher shortage, various measures have been implemented. The district has brought in 68 lateral entrants to the schools. Retired teachers have also been given the opportunity to continue working beyond the age limit, with 48 doing so in the Münster district this year.

Moreover, the "Münster Model" has been utilised to fill vacancies, with new teachers recruited as replacements and through the hiring of lateral entrants and retired teachers.

Temporary assignments have also been made to understaffed schools in the elementary school sector, with 124 teachers temporarily assigned in the Münster district this year.

Despite these efforts, some positions will still be filled after the start of school on September 1st, as selection processes are ongoing in some cases. There will also be further hires in the area of teaching trainees who will complete their internship by October 31st.

However, the search results do not provide specific information about which school districts in the Münster region the Ministry of School and Education assigned temporary teachers to in its 2025 action plan to address teacher shortages in primary schools.

In an effort to address the shortage of teachers at elementary schools in Gelsenkirchen, teachers are currently being offered the opportunity to work at a "desired school" after four years at a school with high demand.

This new school year promises to be an exciting and educational journey for all involved, with the increased staff and first-graders eager to learn and grow.

Prime Minister expresses hopes for a successful commencement of the academic year for schools