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The Swiss System or Private Schooling Are you deliberating placing your child in a Swiss state school or in a private school? Debating the pros and cons? Read on to learn what Ruth Armistead, educator and mother, reports on the choices — with a focus on the Zurich area. Other Articles - Learning - Swiss Universities - WebWatch & many more

The Swiss system or private schooling?

Are you deliberating placing your child in a Swiss state school or in a private school? Debating the pros and cons? Read on to learn what Ruth Armistead, educator and mother, reports on the choices — with a focus on the Zurich area.

Swiss education — general information

The education system in Switzerland is not centrally regulated. Each canton sets its own guidelines, which are then interpreted by the individual town/community,
education authorities and teachers in alignment with the
overall educational goals of the canton. The descriptions here provide an overview. Contact your local education department (Schulpflege) for details on your local schools. At present Switzerland is undergoing an important period
of change with regard to some key aspects of its education system that will make it much easier to harmonize systems between cantons, known as the HarmoS-System (Harmonisation of Compulsory Education, or Harmonisierung der Obligatorischen Schule Schweiz). The intention of this
system is to enable greater flexibility and mobility for families within Switzerland and internationally.

Key features

State schools play an important role in integration: children who have different social, linguistic and cultural backgrounds all attend the same school. If a child is schooled in the Swiss system there is no charge and most school expenses are
covered by the Gemeinde.

Key features that differ from other countries are that children are expected to be more independent, for example, going to and from school even at Kindergarten age without adult supervision, Wednesday afternoons are free, there is no school uniform, most children go home for lunch and children are assessed continuously rather than by blocks of exams at the end of the school year with marks awarded for all the major subjects each semester. Two dates are set each year when
parents are allowed to observe classes throughout the day which gives you a good feel for what your children are experiencing. Education from primary onwards is in High German, not Swiss German. At this time Kindergarten is an exception, but High German is likely to be mandatory shortly under the education changes currently being introduced.

Be aware that if you are planning a trip home to visit family, written permission must be sought from the school authorities if it cuts into school time. Absenteeism and lateness are taken very seriously in Switzerland, and parents can be fined for not complying with the guidelines. At the time of this
writing, a maximum of two absentee days (Jokertage) per year are permitted without a special justification or reason.

The Swiss system vs. private schooling

Although the temptation is for many international families to favour private schools, the Swiss system should not be lightly
dismissed. It offers a good standard of education with many advantages.

There are huge benefits of learning a second language and the younger your child the easier it will be for them to adapt to the new language and culture. A maximum of three years of German tuition specifically for non-native speakers will be provided by the school, possibly even in individual lessons (supplementary to the classes normal German lessons).
Despite their education being in High German the children will have the added benefit of assimilating Swiss German in the playground environment.

Home schooling is legal in many cantons. In Zurich, for example, it an option only when done by a qualified teacher.

If you are only here for a couple of years and are less concerned that your children learn German or Swiss-German, then many of the private schools also run language programmes that are integrated into the school curriculum.

It can be very convenient to have all your children attending the same school, for which there is no guarantee in the Swiss system.

Kindergarten

In future all children who turn four by July 31 must enter
kindergarten when the school year begins, for two years. Until now the cut off date has been April 30. Hours vary but the
children tend not to do full days.

Be aware that kindergarten in Switzerland is viewed as a place where children learn to socialise but are not expected to read or write. An unusual interesting alternative to conventional kindergarten is the Waldkindergarten where children are based outdoors and explore the natural environment. Private kindergartens are an option but must be state certified to operate.

Primary schools

Children spend six years at primary school. If attending a Swiss primary school, there is normally no choice as to which one they attend within their community, and this is allocated by the local authority (Gemeinde/Schulpflege). The six years are split into two 3-year cycles (Unterstufe and Mittelsture) with one teacher for each 3-year cycle. Teaching is organised from around 08:00-12:00 when children normally go home for lunch, returning in the afternoon at around 13:30-14:00

Academic subjects include Maths, German, Science, History, Geography, Sports, Music, Crafts and Art. In the canton of Zurich, English is introduced in Year 2 and French in Year 5. Religious studies are not compulsory.

Secondary schools

At the end of primary school (during Year 6) the class teacher decides, in conference with the family, on the appropriate level of secondary schooling for each child. Either they go to the local secondary school for the next three years or they can sit entrance exams in Maths and German for the Gymnasium (secondary school comparable to English Grammar School). The Gymnasium system is aimed at children intent on a route to higher education at University, finishing with the Matura.

Further chances of entering Gymnasium are offered at the end of the second and third years at the local secondary school.
At lower secondary level (Years 7-9) pupils receive instruction in performance-based groups, either in all subjects or in some subjects. After three years of secondary school students can decide to continue at school, attend a specialised vocational school (Berufschule) and enter an apprenticeship. It is also
possible to do the Matura while pursuing an apprenticeship, which is called the Berufsmatura. The Swiss consider their
apprenticeship system second to none.

Private schools

There are a host of international and Swiss private schools
in the Zurich area, for example, which divide into two
main categories: the international schools, which are English
language based, and the bi-lingual schools, which generally follow the Swiss curriculum.

First, it may be helpful to explain a few terms. The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) was founded in 1968 to provide a standard curriculum for local and private schools around the world. There are many schools world-wide that now follow it, which is particularly helpful for families who move frequently from one country to another. The curriculum is divided into three stages: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3-12; the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11-16; and the Diploma Programme, which prepares students for university and culminates in the International Baccalaureate (IB).

If your children are going to attend a private school it is
important to know which educational institutions recognise the qualifications offered by the schools you consider in
Switzerland. As mentioned previously, some schools follow the IBO Diploma Programme. Other schools follow the US College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Programme, which offers a qualification that is also internationally recognised. If your child is attending a private school and wishes to go to a Swiss university, check that the school offers the appropriate qualifications for entrance to the Swiss university system. ?

Editor’s note: The above article is taken from the newly released 2nd edition of In and around Zurich with Kids: a guide for parents. To order your copy, go to www.TheNewStorkTimes.com