Starting this school year, the canton of Bern will be providing better financial compensation for class teachers. It wants to create better conditions for school principals, as the cantonal education and culture directorate has announced.
Since August 1, 2024, class teachers in the canton of Bern will receive a monthly functional allowance of 300 francs and a five percent position for their work as a class teacher. The Education and Culture Directorate (BKD) of the canton of Bern announced this on Monday.
The BKD also wants to improve the framework conditions for school principals. Together with the class teachers, they are the backbone of the schools. The BKD is working on increasing the percentage of employment for primary school principals.
Further qualification for career changers
In order to ensure the quality of teachers who are changing careers, the BKD is committed to ensuring that they complete the necessary training within a reasonable period of time, it said. To this end, it is offering financial incentives for the further qualification of “inadequately trained teachers”.
According to the BKD, teachers who are changing careers are making a valuable contribution and are helping schools to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers. For example, the summer camp introduced by the University of Education last year to prepare teachers without a teaching diploma has also met with great interest this year.
However, according to the BKD, the staffing situation at schools remains tense. In the canton of Bern, 43 permanent positions are currently advertised, starting in August, four of which are in regular classes. (sda)
