Bern voters to decide education quality initiative

Voters in the canton of Bern will decide on September 27 whether to anchor high-quality education in the cantonal constitution, SRF reports. The initiative was launched by Bildung Bern, the teachers’ association.

It would explicitly require the canton and municipalities to provide consistently high-quality education and the necessary funding. They would also have to ensure there are enough qualified teachers and that their work primarily benefits pupils.

The initiative leaves the details of implementation open. Bildung Bern has proposed expanding school secretariats so teachers can focus more on teaching, as well as improving training for people entering the profession from other careers.

Stefan Wittwer, managing director of Bildung Bern, said economic studies show that every franc invested in education generates three to five francs in return. He said enshrining the quality requirement in the constitution would create a lasting obligation, regardless of political majorities or cost-cutting programmes.

Opponents argue that the canton already guarantees education quality through existing legislation. Bern government councillor Reto Müller said the canton had already taken numerous measures and was planning further steps, including expanding school secretariats to relieve teachers.

Supporters say the initiative could pass because all parties consider high-quality education important. A representative Sotomo poll commissioned by Bildung Bern found in February that 68 per cent of respondents intended to vote yes or probably yes.

However, the potential cost remains unclear. A similar initiative in the canton of Aargau failed at the ballot box this summer, partly because opponents warned of significant additional costs.

The Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Evangelical People’s Party support the initiative. It is also backed by organisations including the association of school leaders and the VPOD trade union.

The Swiss People’s Party, FDP, Centre, Green Liberal Party and Federal Democratic Union oppose it, as do business organisations including the Bern Employers’ Association and the Bern Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Bern cantonal parliament rejected the initiative by 85 votes to 65, with three abstentions.