A high-level overview
of the Swiss school system

The Swiss school system is known for its diversity and flexibility. It offers schoolchildren a wide range of educational paths and career opportunities that are individually tailored to their strengths and interests.

 

This article provides a brief overview of the school system in Switzerland. Since there are significant differences between the cantons and municipalities in Switzerland, this article is intended to serve as a starting point to help you better understand the school system in your canton and municipality.
 

Please note that some of the technical terms differ between the cantons. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

 

How is the Swiss school system structured for compulsory education?

 

Compulsory education in Switzerland lasts for 11 years and includes primary school and lower secondary school.

 

Primary school lasts for eight years. It includes kindergarten or reception classes and primary school.

• Kindergarten or first grade lasts two years and is compulsory in most cantons. This program bridges the gap between early childhood education and primary school. The cantons determine the age at which children enter primary school, which is usually around 4 or 5 years old. Kindergarten promotes social and cognitive skills and prepares children for the structured teaching of primary school.

• Primary school follows kindergarten or first level. This lasts for 6 years in most cantons (5 years in some cantons). During this phase, children are taught basic knowledge in subjects such as mathematics, language, natural sciences and social studies. It should be emphasized that foreign language teaching plays an important role in Switzerland. In most cantons, children learn at least one second national language or English at primary school.
   

Primary school is followed by lower-secondary school, which lasts for three years. The exception to this is the canton of Ticino, where lower-secondary school lasts for four years – however, primary school lasts for five years. This part of the school system is designed to prepare schoolchildren for the various further education pathways at upper-secondary school. When they transfer to secondary school, children are usually 12 years old.

• In secondary school, children are taught in different models according to their academic abilities and preferences (cooperative, divided or integrated model). Depending on the canton, one model is applied throughout the canton, or the municipalities can select one of the models.

• In several German-speaking cantons, students can transfer to a long-track gymnasium after primary school. These schools usually take six years to complete and prepare students for direct entry to university.

 

It is possible to switch between levels of attainment. This is decided jointly by parents and teachers.

 

How does the transition from primary to lower-secondary level work, and what role is played by grades and recommendations?
 

The transition from primary to lower-secondary school is a crucial moment in a child's education in Switzerland. This transition often determines the further educational path and can have long-term effects on the professional career.
 

The conditions for the transition are defined by the cantons. They may include one of the elements below or a combination of them.

• Grades: The academic performance in the last years of primary school plays a central role. Particular focus is placed on the main subjects such as mathematics and languages.

• Teacher recommendations: In some cantons, primary school teachers provide a recommendation as to which type of school is best suited to the abilities and development opportunities of the schoolchildren. The parents are often involved in this process.

• Examinations: In some cantons, there are central examinations that serve as a basis for allocation to a secondary school level in addition to the ongoing school grades.

 

What educational paths are open to schoolchildren after lower secondary school?
 

After lower-secondary school, students in Switzerland can choose from a variety of educational paths, depending on their interests and abilities.

• Gymnasium: Students who wish to pursue an academic career can transfer to an academic Gymnasium. This typically lasts three to four years and ends with the Matura exam, which qualifies students to study at a university, federal institute of technology (ETH) or university of applied sciences.

• Intermediate schools: Various intermediate schools offer practical training in specific subjects. Commercial and IT intermediate schools comprise three years of school and one year of work experience and lead to an EFZ as a commercial employee or IT specialist, as well as to the professional baccalaureate. The specialized secondary school lasts three years and leads to a specialized secondary school certificate, which allows access to a higher specialized school. After that, the specialized matriculation certificate can be acquired, which allows study at a university of applied sciences or a university of teacher education. As part of a bridge, people with a vocational or specialized matriculation certificate can transfer to a university or ETH after passing an exam.

• Vocational training: A very popular and widespread path in Switzerland is vocational training. It combines practical training in a company with theoretical instruction at a vocational school and inter-company courses. There are two types of apprenticeship: a two-year basic vocational training course, which culminates in a Federal Vocational Certificate (EBA), and a three- to four-year apprenticeship culminating in a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ). After completing the apprenticeship, or even during it, there are numerous further education opportunities, including the Federal Vocational Baccalaureate, which allows access to universities of applied sciences.

• Bridge-year programs: For students who are still unsure of their future direction after lower-secondary school or who have not yet achieved the required grades, there are various bridge-year programs that help them to fill in gaps in their education or find their professional direction before entering an apprenticeship or continuing their education at a higher level. These include, for example, public and private vocational preparation years and pre-apprenticeships.
   

The variety of educational pathways after lower-secondary school reflects the flexibility and permeability of the Swiss education system, which aims to find a suitable path for every schoolchild.

 

What are the differences between the Swiss school systems in the different cantons?

 

In Switzerland, educational sovereignty lies with the cantons, which means that there are significant differences in the structure and organization of the school system from canton to canton. This affects, among other things,

• Duration of school levels: While most cantons have a six-year primary school and a three-year secondary school, there are cantons with different structures. For example, in the canton of Ticino, primary school lasts only 5 years, followed by 4 years of lower secondary school.

• Curricula: Each of the three language regions has its own framework curriculum. In German-speaking Switzerland, this is the “Lehrplan 21”, on which the primary school box is also based. In addition, the cantons can set their own priorities, which they publish in their own curricula.

• Teaching materials: Each canton determines which textbooks and other materials are to be used in its schools.

• Transition process: The way in which the transition between levels is designed also varies between the cantons. For the transition from primary to lower secondary school, central examinations are decisive in some cantons, while in others more emphasis is placed on teacher recommendations and continuous performance assessments. In addition, the transition depends on the model chosen. The cantons have also created different options for the transition from lower-secondary to upper-secondary school to improve the transition.

 

These differences can mean that moving from one canton to another during school time can be challenging. Parents and students should therefore be well informed about the specific features of each canton if they are planning to move to another canton. This will ensure that the transition is successful.
 

Conclusion

 

This overview of the Swiss school system shows how thoughtful and diverse the education system is designed to meet the diverse needs of schoolchildren. Whether academically oriented, practical or individually supportive – in Switzerland, there is a suitable educational path for everyone.

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Literature

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Berufsberatung.ch. Gymnasiale Maturität. Abgerufen 2024. https://www.berufsberatung.ch/dyn/show/3452

 

Bildungsdirektion des Kanton Zürich biz. Bildungssystem der Schweiz. Abgerufen 2024. https://www.zh.ch/content/dam/zhweb/bilder-dokumente/organisation/bildungsdirektion/ajb/biz/formulare-und-merkblaetter/bildungssystem.pdf.

 

BKZ Geschäftsstelle. Lehrplan 21. Abgerufen 2024. https://lehrplan21.ch/

 

Gymiprüfung.ch. Abgerufen 2024. https://www.gymipruefung.ch/mittelschulen

 

Kanton Luzern. Übertritt PS – Sek oder LZG. Abgerufen 2024. https://uebertritt-dvs.lu.ch/

 

Kanton Zürich. Gymnasium. Abgerufen 2024. https://www.zh.ch/de/bildung/schulen/maturitaetsschule/gymnasium.html

 

Kanton Zürich. Sekundarschule. Abgerufen 2024. https://www.zh.ch/de/bildung/schulen/volksschule/sekundarschule.html#1194413013

 

Konferenz der kantonalen Erziehungsdirektorinnen und -direktoren EDK sowie  Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation SBFI. Bildungssystem Schweiz. Abgerufen 2024. https://www.edk.ch/de/bildungssystem-ch

 

Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation SBFI. Bildungssystem Schweiz. Abgerufen 2024. https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/de/home/bildung/bildungsraum-schweiz/bildungssystem-schweiz.html

 

Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation SBFI. Maturität. Abgerufen 2024. https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/de/home/bildung/maturitaet.html