Uri’s November 30 vote pits education reform against transparency laws

A heated referendum challenges Uri’s school funding changes, while transparency laws hang in the balance. Will wealth divide classrooms—or empower communities?

, and Administrator

2025 November 16 . 7:14 PM

1 min read

In the picture we can see some school children are standing on the path with school uniforms and... — In the picture we can see some school children are standing on the path with school uniforms and they are holding some papers in their hands and one girl is talking something near the microphone which is to the stand and behind them we can see a fencing wall and to the top of it we can see a shed with some balloons top it.

Uri’s November 30 vote pits education reform against transparency laws

Voters in Uri are set to make crucial decisions on November 30, 2025, with two significant proposals on the ballot. The first concerns the extension of the Freedom of Information Act to municipalities, while the second revolves around a revised school ordinance that has sparked debate and a referendum.

The revised Uri Primary School Ordinance, set to be voted on by Uri voters, introduces a contentious change. Article 9, Paragraph 2 allows for optional additional teaching assistants in classes with more than 21 students. Proponents, including the SVP and The Centre, argue this will improve learning conditions. However, opponents, such as the FDP, SP, Greens, and Green Liberals, fear it could create a two-tier education system based on municipality wealth. A referendum has been launched against this revision, highlighting these concerns.

Meanwhile, voters will also decide whether municipalities should temporarily forgo part of their cantonal funding between 2027 and 2030 to stabilize the canton’s finances. Uri’s Director of Education, Georg Simmen, believes the impact on smaller, less affluent municipalities will be minimal.

On November 30, 2025, Uri voters will cast their ballots on two key issues. The first is the extension of the Freedom of Information Act to municipalities, and the second is the controversial revised school ordinance, which has sparked a referendum due to concerns about potential educational inequality.