The battle for teachers reaches parliament

It has been six months since the teacher shortage hit Switzerland like a shock wave. To ensure that every child has someone at the front who explains maths and German, classes had to be expanded and temporary workers had to be hired without the right qualifications. Another solution has so far been avoided as much as possible.

Education researcher Stefan Wolter recognizes that there are major differences in the workload of teachers in the various cantons. In the 2018 education report, he made it clear: “If all teachers worked 10 percent more, the problem would be solved.” Now he is more specific: “It was never about asking someone to work 110 percent instead of 100 percent. Instead, those who work 60 percent should now teach 70 percent.”

More working hours would have pedagogical benefits: “Children need a constant reference person. In reality, they often have ten different teachers.” This leads to absurd situations: “I know schedules where the children have four hours of music and four hours of sports in one day. On a different day than just the top-heavy subjects such as math or languages. »

Large cantonal differences

And indeed: in the canton of Geneva, teachers must work at least 50 percent. A media spokesperson emphasizes that “unlike other Swiss cantons, there is currently no shortage of teachers in regular classes in the canton of Geneva”.

Part-time work is much more common in other cantons. In the canton of Zurich, 72 percent of teachers work part-time, in the canton of Vaud about 70 percent and in the canton of Bern about 77 percent. The canton of Aargau is at the forefront – an above-average number of people work part-time there, about a third even less than 50 percent. The government council is now considering measures such as a minimum workload.

Teachers voluntarily reduce

Such minimum wages are having a hard time in national politics: “There is a risk that teachers will stop working altogether. An advantage of the teaching profession is that you can work part-time,” says Central National Councilor Simon Stadler (34). “Schools need to create incentives and get creative to increase teacher workload.”

SP alderman Sandra Locher Benguerel (47) also sees no solution in a minimal workload. “Zurich also has a minimum workload of 35 percent and there is a shortage of teachers,” she says. “In addition, many teachers have voluntarily reduced their workload to meet the high demands of the profession.” The comparison with Geneva is difficult. “In Geneva, a full-time job means that a senior teacher has to teach four fewer lessons than in German-speaking Switzerland.”

Demanding an increase in workload is difficult, admits educational researcher Wolter. «In the cities you can increase the workload. If there are only two classes in a rural school that need a French teacher, you have to offer part-time.” However, school boards have a certain amount of leeway here.

With an MBO diploma at the PH?

That is why other solutions are in the foreground on Thursday in the House of Representatives: Stadler wants to achieve with an initiative that people with a vocational diploma can also enter teacher training (PH) without an exam. “The professional baccalaureate is meaningless in today’s teacher education admissions process.”

Whoever completes the HBO baccalaureate specializes in a certain field, for example economics – he then misses subjects such as physics or biology. Stadler is not afraid that future teachers will teach bad biology. “My approach is aimed at primary school. These professional skills are sufficient to teach at this level.”

Adds Stadler: “Sometimes there are also some rather poor Gymi graduates or people who have failed university or technical college who attend the PH today. No one asks them about their qualifications.”

PH Bern must offer additional courses

Direct entry into the PH through the vocational baccalaureate should be carefully scrutinized, says Locher Benguerel. “The mandate to change the law directly is hasty, the consequences must be carefully examined.” She recalls that the canton of Bern already has such a solution. “Now the PH has to offer extra courses for future teachers.”

Locher Benguerel is now demanding a report on the causes of the teacher shortage. “We’re in the dark. Besides demographics, there are several reasons, maybe it’s the workload, maybe it’s the hurdles in training. It needs careful analysis now.” (brother)

Source:Blick