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Studying in Switzerland:
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| Secondary Level I |
| After a period of usually six years (in eight cantons, four or five years), pupils move on to a 'secondary level l' school; these schools vary according to the pupils' requirements. In some places a system known as the 'cycle d'orientation' has been established. Secondary Level I comprises the final years of required schooling. Here the children are divided into sections. The sections with standard requirements prepare children for vocational training or higher secondary education. The sections with advanced requirements prepare the children for the pre-college/university track. Again, depending on when they started primary school. Swiss children finish their compulsory schooling at age 15 or 16. According to statistics from 1994-95, about 68% continued their education with vocational training, 22 % went on to Secondary Level II in preparation for the University, and 7% went on to technical schools. Special classes are also available with specific curricula for mentally or physically handicapped children who cannot be integrated into normal classes. In the case of children with a non-native language background, who represent 17% of all schoolchildren in the country, appropriate measures are taken by communes, cantons and private organizations to promote integration as well as to maintain the children's cultural identity. |
| Secondary Level II |
| The post-compulsory 'secondary level II' consists of schools of general education such as Maturitätsschulen (preparing for university entrance), which are attended by approximately 17% of children in the appropriate age group, teacher training colleges (2.5%), schools offering a diploma (4%), and vocational training courses (76%). This latter form of training is usually undertaken as an apprentice within an organization combined with attending classes, and leads to a diploma or certificate of proficiency. In most cases gymnasium are run by either privately or by the cantons and not by the communes (municipality). This applies especially to the "Maturitätsschulen", which are also called cantonal schools. Until a few years after the Second World War they were only to be found in the large towns and pupils from rural areas who wished to attend this type of school often had to make long journeys. Since then these schools have been decentralized and nowadays nearly every small region has its own gymnasium. In various smaller and traditionally Roman Catholic cantons the abbey schools and colleges make a considerable contribution towards providing education at matriculation level. There are now also a wide variety of possible types of matriculation. A pupil passing through this type of school will normally finish with a federal matriculation examination, which satisfies criteria laid down by the Confederation and which provides entry to all Swiss and many foreign universities. Alongside this several cantons have special forms of matriculation with more limited recognition. There are a number of different streams leading to different types of federal matriculation: Type A: Classical languages (Greek and Latin) Type B: Latin and modern languages Type C: Mathematics and natural sciences Type D: Modern languages Type E: Economics In addition to its specialization, each type of gymnasium also provides a thorough general education. |
| Vocational Training |
| The requirements of vocational training courses are laid down by the Confederation while the cantons are responsible for organizing training. The normal form of training in Switzerland is the so-called master apprenticeship with accompanying vocational and general educational instruction. The apprentice signs a contract with a company whose owner is entitled to provide training because of his own professional qualifications. (In the case of larger concerns with several apprentices there is usually a special instructor). During the period of the contract the apprentice works in the company but has the right to be introduced to all-important aspects of the relevant trade or profession. Parallel to the on-the-job training the apprentice pays at least one visit per week to a vocational training school where he receives instruction in his chosen occupation and in general subjects. Vocational training is completed after three to four years with a theoretical and practical final examination. Professional associations are also sometimes entrusted with running training schools. Of course they are also subject to public supervision and are supported by public funds. There are also individual training workshops around Switzerland, as for example the metal workers' school in Wintherthur. The master apprenticeship system applies to jobs in farming too. However, in order to use working time rationally, vocational and general educational instruction is organized in complete courses at special agricultural colleges during the less labor intensive seasons (especially winter). Over the last few years so-called vocational high schools have also been set up. They are designed to provide particularly well qualified master apprentices with broader and more detailed instruction. Those who have passed through this type of school have a better chance of entering advanced technical schools and engineering colleges when they have finished their apprenticeships. |
| Teacher's Training |
| Other types of high schools: for those who want to become primary school teachers some cantons run teachers' training colleges or junior training colleges. Those who pass through these institutions successfully, receive a cantonal matriculation certificate, which entitles them to attend senior teachers' training college or college of education and to a limited extend also gives access to certain university faculties. The cantonal diploma schools are an increasingly popular institution. They award a diploma facilitating entry to non-university places of education. Diploma schools offer various courses and include trade schools, social work, training schools, transport and administration schools and training colleges for kindergarten teachers. Part: 1 2 3 |
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