Thousands of testimonies in Saxony-Anhalt without a note for failure to teach

Instead of a grade in music, economics, computer science or other subjects, around 20,400 students in Saxony-Anhalt simply received a “n.e.” on the last certificate. The abbreviation stands for no or insufficient instruction. And in the 2025/26 school year this particularly often affected the subject of music, for which there was no grade over 5,700 times, a good 1,600 of which were on the certificates of primary school students. In Saxony-Anhalt, over 200,000 students learn at general schools.

The left-wing education politician Thomas Lippmann requested the information from the state government. The Ministry of Education responded based on self-reports from schools as part of an ad hoc survey. According to a ministry spokesman, 152 of 739 public general education schools reported corresponding cases.

It also emerged that in 109 classes or learning groups, two certificate grades were not given, and in 87, more than two certificate grades remained outstanding.

These subjects are particularly frequently affected

In addition to music, the area of home economics/technology/economics was particularly affected, with around 4,250 students having a n.e. on the certificate, this was recorded almost 3,100 times for value-building lessons such as ethics, and 2,760 times for computer science.

The Ministry of Education points out that “not given” is not always due to lessons being canceled due to a lack of teachers. There are also school organizational reasons, so subjects relevant to transfers could only be taught for one school semester.

Secondary and community schools are particularly affected

According to the survey, the lack of or insufficient instruction affects the types of school to varying degrees: a good 14,800 students were affected at secondary and community schools, almost 3,000 at primary schools and more than 1,700 at special schools. At the high schools, however, a certificate grade was missing significantly less often: there were 800 students there.

And that's what the Ministry of Education wants to do

The Ministry of Education is trying to recruit additional teachers. In order to secure the timetables in as many schools as possible, people are also being asked to volunteer to be seconded to schools that need support. The aim should also be to look beyond school types. “We are particularly concerned with needs in specific teaching subjects in the final years,” said the spokesman for the Ministry of Education. “The aim is to increase the amount of voluntary support in neighboring schools compared to previous years.”