Costs for substitute teachers at Basel’s public schools have nearly doubled since 2018, reaching 14.8 million francs in 2024. This expenditure significantly exceeded the 9.7 million franc budget allocated for the year. The Erziehungsdepartement (ED) is now forming a working group to investigate the causes behind these high rates of staff absence and the resulting financial impact.
Why school substitution costs are rising
The financial pressure on the school system stems from a reliance on temporary staff when permanent teachers are unavailable. According to a report from the Finance Commission of the Grand Council regarding the 2025 annual accounts, the ED has spent substantially more on these services than in previous years. While the canton has increased its hiring of teachers to accommodate a growing number of students in Basel-Stadt, the budget for replacements remains insufficient to cover the current demand.
Did You Know? The cost for substitute teachers in 2024 totaled 14.8 million francs, which is significantly higher than the 9.7 million francs originally budgeted by the Erziehungsdepartement.
Analysis of potential causes
The exact reasons for the spike in absences remain unclear, as the ED has not determined whether these figures reflect long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The department currently lacks data on whether these high absence rates are unique to the public schools or if they are impacting other government departments as well. Officials have identified several contributing factors for the increased costs, including a longer paternity leave, the use of additional vacation days, and the systematic reduction of lesson and holiday credits.
Expert Insight: The significant gap between the budgeted 9.7 million francs and the actual 14.8 million franc expenditure highlights a systemic difficulty in forecasting personnel needs. The success of the newly formed working group will likely depend on whether it can isolate specific, manageable drivers of absenteeism versus broader social trends currently affecting the education sector.
What happens next
As a next step, the Erziehungsdepartement will task the newly established working group with conducting a formal analysis of the high illness-related absence rates. This group is expected to provide clarity on whether the current spending levels are a temporary anomaly or a structural shift in school operations. Depending on their findings, the canton may need to adjust future budget allocations or refine its policies regarding leave and credit management to bring school expenditures back in line with financial planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Basel spend on substitute teachers in 2024?
The costs reached 14.8 million francs, exceeding the allocated budget of 9.7 million francs.
Why is the Erziehungsdepartement forming a working group?
The group is being formed to analyze the causes of high sickness-related absences among teaching staff, which have driven up the costs of substitutes.
What are the known reasons for the increased costs?
The ED cites the use of additional vacation days, longer paternity leave, and the reduction of accumulated lesson and holiday credits as primary contributors.
What do you believe are the greatest challenges currently facing teachers in the classroom?
