Grand Council BS Basel Grand Council supports compromise on remedial classes initiative

A compromise has been reached on the introduction of remedial classes in Basel schools. On Wednesday, the Grand Council approved the counter-proposal of the preliminary advisory committee with 92 votes in favor and 4 abstentions. It is therefore likely that the initiative will be withdrawn.

The initiative committee had stated the week before last that this counter-proposal from the Education and Culture Commission (BKK) fulfilled the core concerns of the initiative and that it would therefore consider withdrawing the petition for a referendum if it was approved in parliament. Parliament recommended rejecting the initiative by 76 votes to 18 with 2 abstentions.

Education Director Mustafa Atici (SP) spoke out in favor of the counter-proposal. This package of measures is a solution-oriented compromise that provides schools with various instruments. He assured that if the counter-proposal is accepted, his department will support schools in its implementation if they wish to introduce remedial classes as required.

The Director of Education, who has been in office since May, had not yet attended the BKK meetings. Atici told the Keystone-SDA news agency, however, that an exchange had taken place and he had put forward his views. For example, his opinion on the introduction of remedial classes, which he has always supported as a temporary solution, as well as the support of teachers by an additional teacher and specialist, as envisaged by the BKK proposal.

The counter-proposal stipulates that schools can create remedial classes, but only for children with learning difficulties and learning disorders, not for those with behavioral problems. It wants to leave it up to the schools to decide whether they want to introduce remedial classes.

Strong support from all parliamentary groups

The majority of all parliamentary groups were in favor of opposing the initiative with the counter-proposal. However, the SVP stated that, in the event of a vote, it would vote in favor of the initiative and would also favor it in the run-off question. "In our view, the counter-proposal is far too complicated and uncertain - only the initiative guarantees that there will be a remedial class at every location," said SVP parliamentary group spokesperson Jenny Schweizer.

The FDP would also vote yes - in recognition of the fact that the initiative committee dared to bring the issue to the table, said parliamentary group spokesperson David Jenny. In the run-off question, however, the Liberals were in favor of the counter-proposal.

Sasha Mazzotti (SP) stated that her parliamentary group was behind the counter-proposal. Some critical voices within the party saw the possibility of remedial classes as a step backwards towards separate provision. However, she herself believes that remedial classes make sense. Mazzotti said that an expanded range of measures that meet the needs of children could also increase equal opportunities.

The LDP, GLP and Center-EPP were also satisfied with the BKK's compromise proposal. Heidi Mück said that the Green-Alternative Alliance (GAB) would also agree to the counter-proposal - despite reservations about the support class instrument among some of the parliamentary group.

SDA