Schools in the Czech Republic are grappling with a shortage of tens of thousands of qualified specialists, with a significant rise in the number of teachers without specialized education unless urgent action is taken.
A study conducted by Jan Koutský from the Faculty of Education at Charles University outlines this worrying trend. According to the study, last year, 10% of teachers in primary schools were unqualified, and this number could rise to 20,000 or 20% over the next decade. For mathematics teachers, the unqualified proportion could increase to as much as 30%.
The study, presented by Education Minister Mikuláš Bek (STAN) on Tuesday, highlights the key factors contributing to this issue, including a shrinking student population, an aging teaching workforce, low interest in the teaching profession among students, and a limited number of available spots in teacher training faculties.
“Currently, there are about 120,000 teachers working in primary and secondary schools, and this demand will decrease to about 113,000. However, based on all the available data, we believe that by that time, we will only have 90,000 qualified teachers,” Koutský stated.
He further explained that by then, 24,000 of these teachers will only have the minimum required pedagogical qualifications, representing a significant increase from the present situation.
Currently, teachers without the proper pedagogical education can still work in schools, provided they obtain the necessary qualifications within three years of beginning their teaching career.
In cases where teachers lack certification, the Czech School Inspectorate is supposed to intervene. However, if a school demonstrates that it tried but failed to find a qualified replacement, the unqualified teacher can continue working. According to inspectors, areas with fewer qualified teachers often see poorer educational outcomes. In many parts of the country, schools are facing a shortage of qualified teachers, and existing teachers are frequently required to teach subjects they weren’t trained to teach at pedagogical colleges.
Five years ago, fewer than a quarter of teachers in primary schools lacked the required qualifications, while in secondary schools, the figure stood at 13.5%. By last year, the number of unqualified teachers had risen above a quarter in primary schools, and over 15% in secondary schools.
