A postponement of French instruction at the secondary school level has been implemented by the St. Gallen cantonal council.
In a significant decision, the St. Gallen cantonal council has approved a joint motion to delay the introduction of French lessons in primary school. The motion, which was jointly submitted by the FDP, Center-EPP, SP-Greens-GLP, and SVP, aims to reduce pressure on children and free resources for core subjects, while ensuring compliance with the HarmoS concordat.
The motion argues that introducing French in elementary school would be an additional burden for pupils without demonstrable long-term education benefits. Instead, the plan is to teach French from senior school onwards in St. Gallen.
The government is now required to draw up an amendment to the law, reflecting the council's decision. However, it's important to note that the plan does not aim to abolish French lessons but to decide to postpone them.
The council emphasizes the need to strengthen basic skills at school, a view shared by many. The motion does not specify which national language would be taught in senior school instead of French in the initial years.
Dissenting voices have expressed concern about potentially snubbing French-speaking Switzerland. However, the council's decision is seen as a step towards reducing the academic pressure on young children, allowing them to focus on mastering the core subjects before introducing additional languages.
The St. Gallen cantonal council's decision comes as the government of St. Gallen intends to delay the start of French lessons in primary school. This move aligns with the council's focus on enhancing the quality of education and ensuring a balanced curriculum for its pupils.
St. Gallen is a member of the Harmos Concordat, but this fact is not directly related to the current discussion. The Harmos Concordat is an agreement between the Swiss cantons that regulates the teaching of French and German in all cantons.
The motion was approved by 88 votes to 24 with one abstention in the St. Gallen cantonal council. This decision marks a significant shift in the approach to language education in St. Gallen and will undoubtedly have implications for the future of language learning in the canton.
