The Neuchâtel Council of State and the teacher who had sexual relations with students decided to separate by mutual agreement. The teacher at the Chaux-de-Fonier Blaise-Cendrars high school and at another school in the canton was dismissed in November 2023, but the Cantonal Court admitted his two appeals and canceled the dismissals.
The Cantonal Court found in particular that certain facts alleged against the teacher are prescribed, so that no fault can be found for them. “Others would require the instruction to be completed,” the canton said Monday.
“Taking into account this particular legal situation and in a desire for appeasement, the Council of State and the teacher have decided to separate by mutual agreement,” we can read in the press release. The latter taught at the Blaise-Cendrars high school in La Chaux-de-Fonds and in a cantonal artistic school.
The affair was revealed by regional media. The man admitted to having had consensual sexual relations with three of his students between 1999 and 2021. At the time of the facts, they were aged between 17 and 21.
>> Read also: Petition in a high school in La Chaux-de-Fonds to prevent abuse of power
Motion to the Grand Council
This affair caused quite a stir in the canton. The Neuchâtel Grand Council accepted on October 1 an amended motion from Clarence Chollet (Vert-es), asking to improve the protection of the sexual integrity of students. The MP wants the canton to take inspiration in particular from Geneva, which issued a directive to prohibit a relationship between a teacher and his students.
The motion also calls for the periodic organization of awareness-raising among Neuchâtel teaching staff on ethical issues in schools and training. The text mentions the opportunity to make the adoption of a code of conduct obligatory within all schools in the canton.
Crystel Graf, State Councilor in charge of training, did not oppose the motion. “We are going to analyze the legislation and see if it is insufficient.” The canton will also determine the measures to be taken to improve teacher awareness. “A code of ethics will be presented by the end of the year,” added Crystel Graf.
ats/lia
Swiss
