Who should be trained as a teacher at a university of applied sciences in the future? The Commission for Science, Education and Culture of the National Council has passed a motion by 15 votes to 8 and with 2 abstentions to ensure that people with an MBO baccalaureate are also admitted to the University of Education (PH) without an exam for that.
A minority rejects the motion because, depending on the MBO, the graduates lack the general skills needed for the PH degree. Today, those interested in PH with a vocational baccalaureate must pass an aptitude test. In order to be able to complete these safely, the universities offer their own preliminary training.
Swiss universities and the Rectors’ Conference of Swiss universities also reject the motion. The latter explains in a position paper why she is against lowering the admission rules: Those who follow MBO only have knowledge in a certain field.
For example, someone who completes secondary education with a specialization in “health and social affairs” does not have enough knowledge in the field of geography, visual/technical design or music to teach these subjects himself. There is no guarantee that those who have completed their vocational baccalaureate “have acquired all the specialist skills necessary to teach the contents of Curriculum 21”.
Stress of teachers is analysed
Central Landsraad member Simon Stadler (34), who submitted the request to the House of Representatives, thinks very differently: according to his proposal, the test does not recognize the “extra valuable experience in another profession” that a teacher can bring in. “Certainly in times of teacher shortage, we depend on them.”
Since, according to the commission, there is still no data on the reasons for the teacher shortage, it also wants to order a report from the Federal Council on the subject. In addition, the positive and negative effects of national school reforms on students should be assessed and the additional burden on teachers should be monitored. (she/SDA)