A recent scandal in the education system of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, has sparked widespread public outcry. The controversy centers on a female teacher in Duisburg who reportedly collected her full salary for 16 years without working a single day. The case only came to light recently after the school’s disciplinary committee noticed the anomaly.
The teacher, a native of Duisburg, began her career at a vocational school in Wesel after completing her training in biology and geography in the 2003-2004 school year. However, she stopped working in August 2009, citing a chronic mental illness and repeatedly extending her sick leave. Payroll records show she was paid between €5,051 and €6,174 per month. Over 16 years, or 192 months, her total earnings amounted to between €970,000 and €1.18 million.
The incident has triggered a heated debate in Germany over the country’s civil service system and sick leave policies. The teacher is a public servant, which legally entitles her to her full salary during long-term sick leave, unlike private-sector employees who typically receive lower benefits. Many online have criticized her for abusing the system, while others question why the school did not investigate sooner. The North Rhine-Westphalia state government and education authorities are now under pressure to reform their oversight mechanisms. The current principal, who took office in 2015, was reportedly unaware the teacher was still on the school’s payroll.
During her sick leave, the teacher also allegedly worked as a therapist, providing “natural therapy” services to clients after obtaining a psychological counseling license. The German Teachers’ Union has called her actions “a humiliation to the professional dignity of all teachers.” According to German law, the school was unable to hire a substitute during her long-term sick leave, forcing the existing staff to work unpaid overtime to cover her workload.
The North Rhine-Westphalia state government ordered the teacher to undergo a medical examination in April 2025. If the examination finds her “permanently unfit for work,” her full salary will be replaced by a lower “permanent pension.” If she is deemed fit, she must immediately return to work and face an investigation for potential fraud and illegal side jobs.
The teacher appealed the decision to the Higher Administrative Court of Münster. The court recently ruled against her, stating that while it was “incomprehensible that the state government took such a long time to notice this matter,” she must comply with the examination and pay €2,500 in legal fees.