Profession in crisis

Loud cry for help from Austria’s kindergartens

Many elementary teachers are frustrated and burnt out - because of the conditions.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com/Krakenimages.com – stock.adobe.com)

For years, the conditions for staff in Austria's nurseries have become increasingly challenging and there is a huge shortage of skilled workers. But how do you get people into the profession and, above all, how can you keep them? Because there has long been a lack of appreciation and financial incentives.

Groups that are too large with too few staff, little visibility and appreciation of the elementary teacher who has long been known as the "kindergarten aunt", more and more children with challenging needs - it seems as if the problems in caring for our youngest children have existed for decades without much having changed. Insiders and experts speak of a chronic crisis in early childhood education.