Improvements for Inclusive Schooling and Parent Engagement Announced in Vaud

2023-08-16 18:11:57

More than 130,000 Vaudois return to school on Monday. On the occasion of the start of the school year, the canton announces a series of adjustments to reduce the discontent around inclusive schooling as well as measures to improve relations with parents and promote scientific branches. The gymnasium in four years will be the big project for the next few years.

This spring, two surveys showed that teachers often feel helpless and exhausted in the face of the increase – in number and intensity – of cases of students with special needs. The Department had promised improvements for the 2023-2024 school year.

State Councilor Frédéric Borloz announced on Wednesday a package of twelve measures, at an estimated cost of 9 million francs per year. In summary, it takes a step back on the concept of an inclusive school. He decided to “move the cursor”, which had so far been placed in a “very ambitious” way.

“When a student poses a problem in a class, we cannot extend the supervision to infinity. We must think of all the students”, explained the head of the Department of Education and Vocational Training (DEF).

Autistic students

New regional classes of specialized pedagogy (CRPS) will open in ordinary establishments in order to take care of children with serious behavioral problems. Thirty entities already exist, four others will open at the start of the school year, dedicated to pupils in 1-4P who suffer from autism spectrum disorders and whose number is increasing. The system will be adapted in 2024.

These classes will be small, and will follow the school curriculum. “We keep these students in school, which promotes inclusion,” insisted Mr. Borloz. If the troubles persist or worsen, institutionalization remains possible.

More shrinks and speech therapists

At the same time, the canton intends to intensify co-teaching (two teachers per class) from the 2024-2025 school year. It also proposes to strengthen the positions of psychologists, psychomotricians and speech therapists. “We are counting on an increase of 48 positions”, announced Cédric Blanc, director general of compulsory education and specialized pedagogy.

An interdepartmental action plan worth ten million francs will focus on school supervision and the mental health of young people. Measures that have proven successful during the Covid will continue. “We are trying to limit school dropouts, which are multiplying,” said Mr. Borloz.

The DEF also wants parents to become true partners of the school. It “opens the site” and will examine, for example, the question of joker holidays, where students can miss school without the parents having to justify the absence.

Gymnasium in four years

It’s definitive: Vaud will have to go to the gymnasium in four years, as imposed by the Confederation. As announced, the canton will favor a mixed model of 10 or 11 + 4. This scenario gives access to the maturity course at the end of the 11th year, while opening it from the end of the 10th for pupils who have sufficient results.

This solution is “fair and pedagogically sound”, noted Mr. Borloz. “It makes it possible not to unnecessarily lengthen the time of studies”. The DEF promises to involve its partners in the work – the unions are calling for the 11+4 variant – and will return in 2024 with a timetable and work avenues.

More math and science

Finally, the canton wishes to encourage pupils aged 8 to 12 to project themselves into a profession related to the field of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences or technology (the MINT disciplines). A new show will take place from February 26 to March 3, 2024 at the EPFL Swiss Tech Convention Center.

On Monday, 132,893 Vaud students will return to class, ie 1,283 more than last year (+1%). 97,143 join the benches of compulsory schools and specialized pedagogy establishments, where they will find 10,905 teachers. 35,750 teenagers will attend vocational schools and gymnasiums, guided by 3,400 teachers.

This article has been published automatically. Source: ats

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