The new school year in Lower Saxony is set to begin with an increase in student enrollment, reaching approximately 840,000 students, which is about 19,000 more than last year.

However, the region continues to face a shortage of teachers, despite the hiring of over 2,191 new educators since the start of the year.

Education Minister Julia Willie Hamburg remains optimistic, stating that the number of teachers is at an all-time high in the state.

To address educational equity, three new initiatives will be launched, including a social index to identify schools with higher needs, a program aimed at improving basic skills in math and German, and a focus on providing foundational learning in primary schools.

Critics, including the GEW and CDU, argue that despite these efforts, significant challenges remain in improving teaching quality and availability.