Elementary school Zurich cantonal government wants to provide targeted relief for teachers
Teachers and head teachers in the canton of Zurich are to receive better employment conditions. School principals are also to receive higher salaries. The additional costs for the canton and municipalities amount to a total of over 60 million francs per year.
09.07.2024, 09:31
09.07.2024, 11:12
SDA
The measures are intended to relieve the burden on teachers and head teachers and counteract the shortage of teachers, as Zurich's Director of Education Silvia Steiner (center) said at a media conference on Tuesday. "We are concentrating on the measures that will have the greatest impact," she continued.
Class teachers are being strengthened in a targeted manner. As part of the annual working time model, they will now receive 120 hours instead of the previous 100 hours for classroom management. The school management can also allocate additional hours if the class is particularly large or particularly difficult due to its composition.
More time when starting a career
Teachers in the introductory phase are to be given more time. They are to be credited with 61 hours per week - also within the framework of the annual working time model - instead of the current 59.5 hours.
The minimum employment level for teachers is also to be increased. This is currently 35 percent. The new minimum workload is to be 40 percent. "This reduces the need for consultation and alleviates the shortage of teachers. At the same time, family-friendly part-time work remains possible," said Myriam Ziegler, Head of the Cantonal Department of Primary Education.
The time resources of school principals will be increased by around 30 percent due to new tasks. At the same time, school principals are to be placed in a higher salary category.
The various changes will lead to additional costs for the canton and the municipalities. In the first year, these will amount to CHF 10 million for the canton and CHF 42 million for the municipalities. After full implementation, annual recurring additional costs of CHF 13 million for the canton and CHF 54 million for the municipalities are expected.
The originally proposed increase in the number of hours per week counted towards the annual working time from 58 to 60 hours for all teaching staff will not be implemented. "If we were to implement this measure as well, the additional annual costs would rise to CHF 150 million," said Steiner.
ZLV considers the measures to be insufficient
The Zurich Teachers' Association (ZLV) is furious about the removal of this measure. Overall, the association considers the measures presented on Tuesday to be insufficient, according to a press release. According to the ZLV, the hourly allowance for classroom teachers should be increased to 200 hours and not just 120. The SP, Greens and AL support the ZLV's demands, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. The FDP takes a different view: the measures presented would cost a lot but bring little, the party announced.
The proposed changes will lead to partial revisions of the Teaching Staff Act and the Teaching Staff Ordinances. A corresponding bill will be submitted to the cantonal council.
