Teacher training colleges try to lure more men into the classroom

The Teacher Training Colleges of Zug and Zurich have jointly launched a project to encourage more men to become teachers in primary schools, where most of the teachers are women.
 
The project, which is also being supported by the Federal Office of Gender Equality, provides men already working in a different profession with the opportunity of spending half a day with a primary school teacher who himself has already changed jobs to become a teacher. Those interested will also have the opportunity of accompanying a male student at one of the training colleges if they prefer. Those who opt to spend time in the class room will themselves be given the opportunity of becoming actively involved in teaching, too, so they can get a greater insight into the profession. Thereafter they are given the opportunity to talk through their experiences to clear up any questions they may have.
 
In order to publicise this project as much as possible, both teacher training colleges have set up a website showing teachers who have opted to become teachers having previously qualified for a different job. One such person is Benjamin Griesser (photograph), who initially completed a commercial apprenticeship with the SBB before going on to work in the travel business, organising group visits and holidays, for example. While he enjoyed it, he felt he did not want to do it for the rest of his professional life, so opted to go into teaching. “Some friends at work used to tell me I was a typical teacher,” he said.
 
Having subsequently studied at the Zug Teacher Training College, he now teaches at a primary school in Maschwanden, just over the canton border with Zurich and is very happy in his new “dream job”.
 
Further information can be found on www.umstieg-lehrberuf.ch or on www.maenner-an-die primarschule.ch.