Education Consultant For Switzerland

Contact InterNations if you would like to work with an advisor that can help you find a the perfect school for your children and assist you with the application process.

Main Differences Between Public and Private Schools

The education standards between public and private schools are so similar that most Swiss nationals enroll their children in public schools. However, there, the classes are taught in the dominate language of the canton (German, French, Italian, or Romansh). So, if your child needs instruction in English or a different language, you should look into private or international schools.

Other differences include the school cost: public schools are free, whereas private schools are expensive to attend: 9,000—30,000 CHF (9,090—30,300 USD) for day classes; 70,000—90,000 CHF (70,700—90,900 USD) for boarding school. Additionally, private schools also have smaller class sizes, while the average public-school class has around 20 students.

Daycare and Kindergarten

There are plenty of daycare and kindergarten options for families living in Switzerland. Keep in mind that the names of schools, such as “daycare” and “kindergarten,” may change depending on the dominant language of the canton.

Daycares in Switzerland are referred to as crèches in French-speaking cantons and Krippe or KiTa in German ones. Daycares accept children before they turn one-year-old and all the way up until when they can begin kindergarten. These schools are mostly used by parents who need to go to work every day.

Fees for daycares are notoriously high in Switzerland. Depending on where you live, prices range around 60–150 CHF (60–150 USD) per day. In the bigger cities, the prices will be even higher. It is not uncommon for Swiss families to spend nearly 30% of their income on childcare options. For families who cannot afford these prices, some cantonal authorities provide subsidized options for as low as 10 CHF (10 USD) per day. Some schools may even give discounts for siblings.

To enroll your child, parents should approach crèches in person. Be aware that there are usually waiting lists. Crèches can be in an official building or run from a designated crèches worker’s home.

Nursery (Pre-school)

Nursery can be called pre-school as it comes before the compulsory school age. Children can attend nursery as young as four years of age, although some cantons may require your child be four years and nine months. Parents should apply in writing.

Schools operate between 08:30–12:00, break for lunch, and return from 13:00–15:30. Nursery school programs are set by each canton, but curricula typically focus on cognitive and social development. At this age, the child’s performance is rarely assessed and there are no selection criteria.

Is Nursery (Pre-school) Mandatory?

Most Swiss cantons offer two years of preschool, but do not require children to attend. However, this varies by region and it is best to check with your specific cantonal authorities to be sure. In general, the majority of Swiss children attend at least one year of preschool, and over half attend two.

Kindergarten

The difference between kindergarten and pre-school is minimal when it comes to curricula or school age. The main distinction is that kindergarten is mandatory in some cantons as a part of primary education, while in others it is not. Requirements for how long a child must attend kindergarten also vary by canton, as some German-speaking cantons mandate a child enrolls in two years of kindergarten, but others require just one. Be sure to check your new home’s educational department before you move.

Feeling confused? Because Switzerland’s education system varies so greatly depending on canton and municipality, expats should contact the experts at InterNations to help them decipher what the schooling options are for their young children.

Talk to other international parents with young children in Switzerland

Education Consultant For Switzerland

Primary and Secondary Schools

Some of the best primary and secondary schools in Switzerland are public schools. Nearly 95% of Swiss residents choose to send their children to public schools because they are free, and the education students receive is of extremely high caliber.

Primary (or elementary) school begins with kindergarten and lasts for about seven to eight years depending on your canton. Kids are schooled together and learn general subject like math, writing, and literature.

Upon graduation, students take an exam that determines their track for secondary education. The exam varies from canton to canton. Many parents opt for tutors or after-school courses to prepare for the exam because much of the test material is not covered in primary school.

Secondary School

There are several factors that determine your child’s options for secondary school (also called high school). The first, and probably most important (and probably most predictable), is your canton. In Zurich, for example, a student has the option to enroll in standard secondary school or they can opt for langgymnasium. The standard secondary school will last three to four years and students can choose a learning specialty to focus on. Langgymnasium is for six years and prepares students for specialized careers.

Throughout the country, secondary school is usually divided between upper and lower secondary. Again, students have many options when it comes to upper secondary because much of it depends on the canton as well as the student’s personal interests and abilities. Students can choose between a more academically minded track or a vocational track, which usually entails an apprenticeship. Students are schooled in the dominate language of the canton and they learn two foreign languages as well, most commonly, the languages of the other cantons.

Upper Secondary School

In upper secondary, students can also choose to attend a matura school. There are six types of matura schools that focus on different curricula:

Math and Science (Matematisches und Naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium)

Modern languages (Neusprachliches Gymnasium)

Classical languages (Altsprachliches Gymnasium)

Secondary School of Economics (Wirtschaftsgymnasium)

Secondary Music and Art school (Musisches Gymnasium)

Secondary School of Sports (Sportgymnasium)

Like Zurich’s langgymnasium, these schools will require students pass an entrance exam. Like the exam at the end of primary school, this exam has a reputation for being extremely tough with material that is not often taught in school. If I child gets into one of these schools, they should be prepared to work hard as the schools have high academic standards in order to remain enrolled.