Keystone-SDA
Some 19,761 students and 21,42 teachers resumed the way to the compulsory school on Monday in the canton of Neuchâtel. The number of schoolchildren is slightly decline, despite an increase in 1st Harmos. This return to school will be marked by a ban on the use of mobile phones in the school enclosure and by measures to improve the spelling of students.
(Keystone-ATS) Neuchâtel will harmonize practice and prohibit mobile phones or other private connected devices in the school framework for all students of public schools in compulsory education. “This rule was already widely in force in the canton” but it could vary from one school circle to another, said Crystel Graf, state councilor in charge of education on Thursday.
Mobile phones or other private connected devices will have to be turned off and stored, so as to be not visible and non -usable. “We have not planned storage boxes at the entrance to the classes but the school circles can provide it,” added Crystel Graf.
Compared to the fact that only 36% of Neuchâtel students reached the expected skills in spelling during the last COFO survey, the canton wants to take action. “Attention, paid to spelling, often stopped at the end of cycle 2, when it is necessary all the time to exercise it and start from the idea that it is not acquired in cycle 3,” explained Serge Ramel, head of the compulsory education department.
New teaching means, which already exist for cycle 2, will be produced at the French -speaking level. Rituals will be set up as with a sentence of the day to write.
“You have to make you want to learn spelling,” added Crystel Graf. In conjunction with the week of the French language and the Francophonie in March 2026, a week of spelling will be organized in all school centers. Escape games of spelling, competitions and debates will be set up in particular.
Closed class with board
The evolution of the number of students in the canton is very slightly decreasing, despite the presence of 250 Ukrainian students and an increase in students of 1st Harmos due to a small babyboom of births in 2020-2021.
The class of the College of Planchetes should be closed for lack of students. The three students concerned will join the classes of the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds and the teachers of the college will continue to work within the school circle. The authorities of the municipalities indicated in a statement that they hope that it is “a temporary closure”.
The immersive teaching of German continues its progression in the canton. It concerns 3,799 students (+11.2%), in 209 classes (+10%).
“A success, especially since the early teaching of French in German -speaking Switzerland is questioned,” said Crystel Graf. The State Councilor “launches a call to keep the French in the Outrear primary school. It is about national cohesion. I do not dream of a country where we speak in English when we move in the canton of Bern ”.