Education | August 14, 2024
There should be enough qualified teachers in school classes. This is what the Bern Education Association is calling for. The initiative was submitted to the canton this Wednesday.
Children should continue to be able to enjoy a good education in the future.Photo: Keystone
The responsibility of educational institutions is immense, the pressure on schools is increasing and the quality of education is at risk, wrote Bildung Bern in a statement. Therefore, the quality of education must be anchored in the constitution.
The teachers’ association would like to add three sections to the Bernese constitution. Firstly, the canton and municipalities should provide the necessary resources to ensure high-quality education across the board.
Secondly, it must be ensured that there are enough qualified teachers available to educate schoolchildren. And thirdly, the work of teachers must primarily benefit schoolchildren.
Sparking social debate
In addition, Bildung Bern wants to use the initiative as a tool to spark a social debate. Today, there is a lack of awareness that the teaching profession requires training, said managing director Stefan Wittwer at the launch of the initiative in January.
According to its own information, the association collected over 20,000 signatures, which it handed over to the State Chancellery on Wednesday afternoon. 15,000 signatures were needed in six months.
The initiative of Bildung Bern was supported by other organizations, such as the Professional Association of School Management Bern, the parents’ organization School and Parents’ House Bern, the Association of Students of the Bern University of Teacher Education, the umbrella organization of employee associations and the Forum for Bilingualism.
