Teachers’ association boss very concerned about teacher shortages
“Often it’s no longer about education, only about care”
Because there are not enough teachers, more and more people without a teaching diploma are standing in front of classes. The teachers’ association considers this a dangerous development. He accuses the authorities of keeping the problem under wraps.
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Dagmar Rösler (50) is alarmed. “We are very concerned, the quality of education is in great danger,” says the President of the umbrella organization of teachers in Switzerland.
A cause for concern is the shortage of teachers, which has worsened once again. Many educators are retiring at the same time as student numbers are soaring. It has long been clear that this is going to be a big problem. But from the point of view of the teachers, the cantons are still doing too little to improve the situation in the schools. The association made this clear at a media conference on the occasion of the start of school.
Increasing number of teachers without a teaching diploma
“The schools are paying for what politics has long neglected. You could have strengthened the profession a long time ago,” criticizes Rösler. As examples of an upgrading of the teaching profession, she cites time relief, especially for class teachers, the support of newcomers to the profession and a strengthening of the image of the teaching profession. Salary is also a factor.
In order to prevent students from being left without a teacher, schools have long resorted to emergency solutions. For example, people without a teaching diploma are employed. In the canton of Zurich, this measure was introduced for this school year. perforce. “This is an alarming development!” If no teacher can be found, classes have to be combined or communities decide to merge schools.
Criticism of lack of transparency
“You can often no longer speak of education, but of care,” says Rösler. As a mother, she is very worried. “If I were to find out that my daughter was coming to a teacher without training, then I don’t know that I could still sleep well.”
There are no concrete figures on the teacher shortage. The teachers’ association sharply criticizes this. Rösler accuses the authorities of not being transparent. One tries to keep the ball flat by not openly communicating who exactly is being hired. That is why the parents may not even be aware of who is teaching their children.
