Bottom-up for teacher density in Uppsala

The National Agency for Education's latest figures show that 13.6 pupils per teacher place Uppsala municipality in place 271 of the country's total 290 municipalities, in terms of teacher density. Louise Plobeck is concerned about the situation.

- It goes without saying that it will be more difficult to make adjustments in the classroom - for those students who need special support or extra challenges. There will be large classes and relatively little support staff. It does not feel good in the stomach when the students are affected, and I think it is hard on many teachers, she says.

One of the initiatives that the municipality has made for teachers is to raise salaries. The target set was an average wage increase of SEK 11,000 from 2012 until 2021 - and at present figures show that the municipality is in line with the target.

- It is not that far until we will be in goal, and we will succeed with that approach, says Helena Hedman Skoglund (L), chair of the education board.

But the teacher shortage remains - salary increases don't seem to be enough?

- Wages are one of several things we have to work on to become an attractive employer. Another important issue is the work environment where I think it is important for teachers to be just teachers, be able to focus on their core assignments and have the opportunity for skills development.

The municipality's salary increase mainly applies to those newly hired as teachers. And now the Teachers' Union in Uppsala sees that an unequal pay is created between teachers, which means that more people choose to change employers to get a higher salary. And that creates poor continuity in schools, according to the Teachers' Union.

- We are of course very happy that you have to pay a lot for a new teacher, but it will be strange from a fair point of view when a new teacher comes in and has a higher salary than a teacher who has worked for a long time. I think that also leads to a greater turnover of teachers - that you feel a little unfairly assessed, says Louise Plobeck.

Helena Hedman Skoglund (L) comments on the consequences of the wage increase.

- I think it is important that teachers who come into working life get a good starting salary. But it is of course equally important that teachers who have been in the profession for a long time are rewarded in salary setting. Then it is not optimal when teachers feel that they have to change employers to get a higher salary.

Uppsala Municipality has also invested in teacher assistants to assist teachers.

- I have the opinion that in the schools where teacher assistants are today, it is something that is perceived as very positive. Then the investment is really just beginning and will need to be expanded over a number of years.

The Teachers' Union prefers trained teachers in school - but describes the situation as difficult.

- I believe that teaching assistants can make great use, especially in the lower grades. We do not want to say no - but we would rather see an increase in office staff, curators and caretakers, says Louise Plobeck

But can't a teacher assistant be a way out for teachers who have a heavy workload?

- It may be so, but we do not want to end up in the situation where teachers should become supervisors over an unskilled staff. But it can also be from situation to situation.