Geneva shortens the training of its primary school teachers to three years
Published: Friday, Feb 2nd 2024, 21:40
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In the canton of Geneva, the training of primary school teachers will be shortened from four to three years. The Geneva cantonal parliament passed a law to this effect on Friday.
The duration of training for primary school teachers at the University of Geneva will thus be aligned with that of teacher training colleges in the rest of Switzerland. The bill was approved by 64 votes to 31.
The measure is intended to go hand in hand with a practice-oriented redesign of the curricula and enable students to enter the job market more quickly. Geneva is the only canton in Switzerland that trains its teachers at university rather than at a teacher training college.
"The university education that has been in place for 20 years does not bring any added value," said centrist parliamentarian Xavier Magnin. Social Democrat Caroline Marti, on the other hand, said that the four-year course was tailored to the needs of pupils and offered the opportunity to teach at all levels of elementary school. She also pointed out the danger that the training as well as the profession and wages would be devalued. A referendum against the bill was announced.
©Keystone/SDA
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