A recent study has found that Swiss teachers generally feel positive about their colleagues, classes, and lessons, but hold a less favorable view of the inclusive education model.
According to the Swiss Teachers' Association (LCH), teachers rated their overall job satisfaction at 4.2 out of 6, a grading scale commonly used in Swiss schools. "Overall, teachers are content in their profession, but there are some warning signs," LCH president Dagmar Rösler stated.
Martina Brägger, who led the study, highlighted that teachers are particularly satisfied with their collaboration with colleagues, students, and parents. However, there are some less positive aspects, such as the inclusive education approach, work-life balance, public recognition, and opportunities for promotion and professional development.
While the overall satisfaction score of 4.2 is seen as "acceptable," Brägger noted that there is still significant room for improvement.
Inclusive education received the lowest satisfaction score of 3 out of 6, with resources cited as a major issue. Teachers pointed to a lack of staff and inadequate classroom space as significant challenges. Additionally, nearly half of the respondents reported not having enough time to meet their own work requirements.
The last similar survey was conducted in German-speaking Switzerland in 2014. Over the past decade, there has been little change in the areas surveyed, according to Brägger. The only notable shifts were a more positive view of wage development and a more negative perception of stress levels.
This year's study was expanded to include French-speaking Switzerland, Italian-speaking Ticino, and Liechtenstein for the first time. The survey was open to all members of the teachers' associations and received responses from approximately 16,500 teachers in German-speaking Switzerland and 2,230 in French-speaking Switzerland.
With a 36% response rate, Brägger described the survey as representative.
Teachers in French-speaking Switzerland reported feeling less supported by school management and colleagues, leading to a lower overall satisfaction score of 3.9. The LCH suggests that differences between the regions, such as larger school sizes and a more hierarchical management style in French-speaking areas, may contribute to these discrepancies. Photo by St. George's School in Switzerland, Wikimedia commons.