Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann calls for digital education
Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann wants to apply for an additional credit of a good CHF 150 million for more digital education. In doing so, he wants to send an important signal for Swiss education, research and innovation.
Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann is calling for an offensive for digital education. He is proposing to the Federal Council an additional credit "in the order of CHF 150 million". This should strengthen digital basic education.
In January, the economics minister received a mandate from the Federal Council to examine the consequences of digitisation for education. People at all levels of education must be confronted with digitalisation, Schneider-Ammann said at the time. "It is important to take away people's fear."
The requested additional credit of around CHF 150 million for the so-called digital education offensive is not included in the Dispatch on Education, Research and Innovation (ERI Dispatch) for the years 2017-2020, which has only just been approved by parliament. Schneider-Ammann is therefore aware that the funding discussion will still be "epic in scope".
Before the summer holidays
At the moment, he assumes that he will apply for the money as additional funds to increase the ceiling, "because we cannot compensate arbitrarily in education". However, he could also live with it if the education offensive were to be staggered or a small part of it were to be saved elsewhere.
"The essence is: now, across the board, intensively. - That costs. And the funds must be made available," said Schneider-Ammann. The Federal Council will possibly deal with the proposal before the summer holidays. (Source: sda)
