Education in Switzerland is high-quality. Schools are run by the individual cantons, meaning that structure, language and curriculum vary considerably between cantons.
Switzerland is a country of four national languages, so it is very important to mention determine the language of instruction. Lessons are taught in the language of the respective canton. This can be French, German, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic.
Private System or Public
Public education is free and typically excellent with well-trained teachers, small classes and high academic standards. Public schools are popular among expats, and young children typically learn the language quickly.
There is usually additional support available for pupils who still need to learn the local language.
School structure
Compulsory education usually starts at age 4, with kindergarten. Kindergarten is part of mandatory education in most cantons.
Children attend kindergarten for 2 years, before starting formal primary school around the age of 6.
After 6 years at primary school, they attend lower secondary school, which is mandatory for a minimum of 3 years.
At around age 12, children are divided into separate paths, either the academic path that will be followed by university, or the vocational path to be followed by an apprenticeship. Vocational education is popular and highly respected in Switzerland and is relevant in such areas as banking, IT and healthcare.
Afterschool
The school day in Switzerland is shorter than in some other countries. Many children finish at lunchtime and go home for lunch and homework. The alternative is to enroll in after-school care, which can be expensive. This again varies by location.
International Schools
There are a number of international schools in Switzerland. These typically teach in English, avoiding language barriers, though local languages are taught as foreign languages.
The curriculum usually follows either the British or American system.
Annual tuition fees vary considerably depending on the student’s age and school form and start at 20,000 Swiss Francs or more per year and per child. Siblings usually enjoy discounts.
