Germany

The minister of Baden-Württemberg announced an “awakening of education” when he was elected in 2011.  Now, the “awakening” has come:  11,600 teacher jobs will be cut in the next couple years. Although many in the state have doubts about these teacher cuts, the minister and others believe that they’re needed due to budget shortfalls.  Furthermore, the number of pupils in schools has dropped by 15,000 over the last five years in Baden-Württemberg.  Proponents of the teacher firings thus believe that less teachers are needed in general.  Opposing the measure are the teacher unions, who are shocked by the minister’s measure to fire so many teachers.