Swiss education system

Competences of the Swiss federal authorities are limited for the obligatory school, which includes/understands the primary education and the secondary for the part which concerns pupils up to 16 years. For these sectors, it is consequently little adapted speech of education system Swiss. Indeed, even if attempts at harmonization succeeded right now, it is legitimate to consider that Switzerland counts 26 education systems, that is to say one by canton or demicanton.

The legal settlement on the school coordination of 1970 is the legal base of the co-operation intercantonale in the field of education and defines important characteristics structural of the obligatory school (age of entry at the school, duration of the compulsory schooling). Other agreements concluded in years 1980 and 1990 make it possible as for them to ensure the recognition of the diplomas of end of studies the national level as well as the mobility on the worldwide the level of post-obligatory teaching.

The Swiss Conférence of the cantonal directors of the state education (CDIP) negotiated a new legal settlement on the school harmonization (projer HarmoS) of 2001 to 2007, and on May 21st, 2006, the Swiss people decided in favor of a standardization of the education system at the federal level. The legal settlement must now be ratified by the cantons.

To simplify, it is however possible schematically to present the system Suisse of education to divide it into three levels:

  1. the primary education (divisions elementary and average)
  2. the secondary,
  3. tertiary sector.

The obligatory school constitutes the base of the Swiss school system. This one generally lasts nine years. It is distributed between the primary education degree and the secondary degree I. In the majority of the cantons, the primary education degree lasts 6 years. The secondary degree I made there continuation, generally for a 3 years duration. With him compulsory education is completed.

Like preparation at the primary education level, one distinguishes the préprimaire degree. Also called elementary school, this degree does not form part of the compulsory schooling. The secondary degree is him also subdivided in two parts, one belonging to the obligatory school, the other more.

The préprimaire degree

  • the préprimaire degree (or nursery school, childish school) is not-obligatory and prepares the children with the compulsory schooling and is a right which the children in all enjoy the cantons which propose it.
The 18 other Germanic cantons and demicantons have their own school system.

The primary education degree

  • In the majority of the cantons, the primary education degree (elementary school) lasts 6 years.
The 18 other Germanic cantons and demicantons have their own school system.

The secondary degree I

See also: secondary Degree I

  • the secondary degree I made there continuation, generally for a 3 years duration. With him compulsory education is completed.
The 18 other Germanic cantons and demicantons have their own school system.

The secondary degree II

See also: secondary Degree II

  • Maturities: the Swiss government and the cantons decided, in 1995, to reform the Maturité gymnasiale. The new regulation envisages only one type of maturity, a reduction of the number of matters of studies and examinations as well as a work of maturity. These reforms must be concretized from here with 2003. In 1993 already, with the introduction of the professional Maturity, the government and the cantons expressed their will to improve the general terms of professional training. Professional maturity is based on the practice and must make it possible to the graduates to start studies in a High school specialized. There exist currently five different professional maturities: technique, commercial, artisanal, artistic and technico-agricultural.

Higher education

Higher education is also called tertiary degree of education. The offer of formation on this level in Switzerland is very important. It is divided mainly into two fields, that of the high schools and that of the higher professional training .

  • the field of the high schools includes/understands the high university schools (cantonal universities and federal Polytechnic schools) as well as the high schools specialized and the universities.

  • the field of higher professional training is consisted all the other formations of tertiary degree preparing with the federal Brevet or the federal Diplôme. Higher professional training is characterized by a broad and diversified offer private institutions.

Competences in the training area

In the spirit of the “co-operative federalism”, the Swiss Confederation and the cantons are distributed competences in the curricular area. Generally, the 26 cantons and demicantons enjoy a great autonomy. This one varies however according to the type of institution and the level of study inside the Swiss system of education.

On the level of the préprimaire (kindergarten) and with that of the obligatory school (primary education degree + secondary degree I), the cantons are only responsible. The Confédération day before however so that the right to an primary school education answering certain requirements of quality and the principle of exemption from payment is respected.

With the secondary degree II, the Confederation with the responsibility for professional training. The recognition of certifications is federal: federal certificate of capacity and professional maturity.

The mainstream education of the secondary degree II, in particular the gymnasia, is as for him under the responsibility of the cantons. The examinations of maturity which mark the end of the studies gymnasiales are spring of the cantons. Maturities gymnasiales are recognized or not by the Confederation. The certificates testify thus that their holders have knowledge and the general aptitudes necessary to undertake academic works. Private schools, not recognized by the Confederation, prepare directly with the Swiss examination of maturity.

On the level of the higher education or tertiary degree of education, competences are also shared. According to the news Constitution (1999), the Confederation legislates on higher professional training. It thus has the responsibility for higher professional training and HES. Moreover, the two polytechnic schools concern its competence, just as the encouragement of research. The cantons, as for them, have the responsibility for their university, ten. Those are financially supported by the Confederation.

(Source: The policy of Swiss tertiary education. National report/ratio of Switzerland, given to the OECD by the Confederation and the cantons, Bern 2002)

Sources

  • http://www.irdp.ch/publicat/textes/043.pdf

See too

External bonds

  • Diagram of the educational system in Switzerland

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