Vaud cantonal parliament advocates learning Swiss German
Published: Tuesday, Nov 28th 2023, 15:10
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The Vaud cantonal parliament has spoken out in favor of learning Swiss German in the canton's schools. On Tuesday, it called on the State Council, against its will, to draw up a strategy for learning the language.
The postulate, which was passed with 71 votes in favor, 67 against and two abstentions, specifically calls for a report to the State Council on how and when Swiss German courses can best be offered. The courses could either be voluntary or compulsory.
The Green Party member David Raedler, who had tabled the postulate, argued that High German was not sufficient in Switzerland. Swiss German is spoken more frequently in social and professional life than High German. "It is a language and not a dialect reserved for yodeling festivals," he said. Young Vaudois do not speak this language at all after school.
It is about "national cohesion" and the opportunity to gain access to the labor market, where 63 percent of trade takes place in Swiss German, said Raedler.
For the Green politician, learning High German must have priority, but it should be supplemented by Swiss German. The postulate was positively received by the Left Party in the Council.
Timetable already full
On the right-hand side of the chamber, several MPs emphasized that learning Swiss German should be an "individual responsibility". The school was responsible for teaching the national language, i.e. High German. "The problem is not to learn Swiss German, but to master the German language better," said Fabrice Moscheni (SVP).
Frédéric Borloz, the State Councillor responsible for education, also rejected the postulate and pointed out several problems. Starting with the full timetables. In addition, there is currently no demand from pupils, parents or teachers for the introduction of Swiss German.
However, the State Council continues to make great efforts to promote language exchanges for young Vaudois, said Borloz. There are corresponding agreements with the cantons of Zurich, Zug and Appenzell, for example.
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