Higher Education in Switzerland

Abstract

Switzerland is a federal state with a surface area of 4I,288 km2 and a population of about 6.4 million (I976) of which about I million are foreigners; it consists of 26 cantons and half-cantons with different cultures, languages and religious persuasions. As in many other branches of public life, education in Switzerland is decentralized. Besides, most of the cantons share their charges with the communes. So, although each canton and its communes is autonomous as far as education is concerned, be it compulsory attendance at school, which is generally from 8 to 9 years, or secondary or university education, the Confederation essentially looks after the tasks that cannot be satisfactorily undertaken by the local or regional authorities. It particularly plays a compensating role when the financial charges and the possibilities of education are not equally divided among all the cantons. This is the reason why it is turning its attention in particular to vocational training: professional apprenticeships and technical schools. In this way, vocational training forms a homogeneous part of our educational system. In connection with this the Confederation is able partly to protect the interests of those cantons with no university. It also regulates medical studies; furthermore, this competency has led to a harmonization of 'maturity examinations' (secondary school leaving examinations) in the whole country. Primary school education is compulsory and free of charge in state schools. Each canton has its own laws and regulations. This diversity in school systems is a hindrance to the migration of families. For this reason there have been attempts made to harmonise the system; in French Switzerland a common programme for the six French-speaking cantons for the first four years of primary school has been established. Thanks to the agreement on school co-ordination, made by the cantonal Directors of education, the age of entrance to primary school (6 years) and the duration of compulsory attendance at school (g years) will soon be uniform in Switzerland. The communes play an important part in this sector of education. They intervene in particular through the local school committees. Primary schools are financed by the communes and the cantons. Private schools also