Education In Schwyz, the continued existence of the Education Council is on the agenda
The government of Schwyz wants to draw up an overview of improvements in the education sector. It wants to include the abolition of the Board of Education, which was called for in a motion, in this review.
11.07.2024, 11:06
SDA
Cantonal Councillor Sepp Marty (FDP) wrote in a motion that the current system with an education council with an executive function is the main reason why adjustments in the cantonal education system are slow and cause great dissatisfaction among those involved. He cited the recruitment and retention of teachers as an example.
In his motion, Marty questioned the fundamental usefulness of the committee and asked the cantonal government to draw up a proposal for a system change. An obvious solution would be to transfer the powers of the Education Council to the government or the Department of Education.
In its response on Thursday, the government requested that the motion be converted into a postulate and that it be declared substantial. This is because a motion, which was declared substantial by the Cantonal Council in February, had already addressed the issue. This motion called for an open-ended analysis to improve processes in the education sector.
Teachers must be represented on the Education Council
On the same topic, Michael Spirig (GLP) called for a report on the future structure of the Education Council in a postulate. Among other things, the government should examine how the specialist body could be more optimally staffed in future. For example, by including teachers, head teachers or school councillors.
In his postulate, Spirig criticized the fact that half of the current Education Council has no direct connection to elementary school. The council is a body with an executive character. The fact that members of the cantonal legislature sit on it is an extremely "questionable practice".
The government is requesting that the postulate be declared substantial and that it also be included in the interpretation.
The shortage of teachers has been an issue in the canton of Schwyz for some time. A project group set up by the canton produced an analysis and action report in 2022, which was later deemed insufficient by the Education Council. It then launched additional clarifications in the form of an online survey. The resulting delay caused dissatisfaction among teaching staff and in parliament.
