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Education in Switzerland

Megan Freiburger, Mary Hoffman, & Tobi Ku

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Introduction

Switzerland relies on education as an important national resource.

-Ranks 14th on PISA's overall comparison

-Switzerland has no federal education authority or national curriculum.

(no uniform language or curriculum taught)

-6% of GDP is invested in education

-The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report for 2010-11 ranked Switzerland as first overall. Under the fifth pillar of the report, Higher education and training, the Swiss had a score of 5.79, which is the fourth highest among all the countries surveyed.[5]

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Management

  • The Swiss education system is largely decentralized. Cantons (regions) make most decisions and finance public schools.

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Structure

4 stages: Primary, Secondary I, Secondary II, and Tertiary/adult education.

  • Compulsory: Primary & Secondary I (9 years)
  • Post-compulsory: Secondary II (3-4 years) consists of vocational training or pre-tertiary education. 90% of youth complete Secondary II.
  • Tertiary education: professional education in universities or technical schools.

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Policy System

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Kindergarten (age 5-6)

Primary - Primarschule (Elementary, 1st-6th grade)

Oberstufenschule (Elementary, 7th-9th grade)

Long-Term Secondary I - Langzeit Gymnasium (6.5 years)

Apprenticeship - Berufslehre (4+ years)

Short-Term Secondary I - Kurz Gymnasium (4.5 years)

Evening College - Abendtechnikum (6 years)

Technical College - Fachhochschule (3.5 years)

Graduation Diploma School - Maturitatsschule

University (4.5 years)

Business life or further education

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Conclusion - Goals for Education

  • Implement the successes of the Swiss system into other foreign educational programs; provide funds and management insight in return for natural resources and trade.
  • More study abroad volunteer opportunities for Swiss students
  • Try to make the Cantons a bit more harmonious/on sync for children

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Sources

  • http://www.swissworld.org/en/education/
  • http://www.about.ch/education/