Education and Schools in Switzerland
The Swiss often claim that their greatest natural resource is education (unfortunately, not cheese or chocolate). Public schools in Switzerland are reputed to be excellent, and private boarding schools deemed exceptional. Apart from these local institutions, a number of highly-regarded international schools in Switzerland exist for foreigners who prefer to have their children continue with their home-country curriculum in their home-country teaching language.
In short, expat parents can rest assured that the education their child receives while living abroad in Switzerland will be more than satisfactory. However, depending on their choice of school, it may also end up being one of their greatest expenses.
Switzerland prides itself on its high standard of publicly-funded education. Most Swiss utilise these institutions, and expats living in the alpine nation are also able to take advantage of these tuition-free options as well.
Schooling in Switzerland begins with 1 to 2 years of optional pre-school ("kindergarten" or "école enfantine"), and is officially compulsory from the ages of 6 to 15.
Keep in mind that the system of public education in Switzerland is largely decentralised, and authority rests with each individual canton. It follows that the teaching language will vary according to the primary language spoken in the canton (either German, French, Italian or, in a small number of cases, Romansh). Public schools do not instruct in English, and do not devote an incredible amount of time to supporting students who cannot speak the primary teaching language.
Additionally, working expat parents with younger students often find the hours set by public Swiss schools inconvenient. The day typically ends early, at around 3.45pm, and students are sent home for lunch. Some schools offer supervised lunch hours and after-hours daycare for an extra charge.
In the end, public schools are usually a better option for expats who plan on living in Switzerland long-term, who have children who speak one of the official languages, or who have very young children who can assimilate into the culture quickly and who will be able to pick up the language easier.
That said, there is a large multilingual emphasis in all Swiss schools. Most institutions require students learn at least two other languages (usually English and another of the official Swiss languages) aside from the primary teaching language.
There are now a few bilingual schools in Switzerland that teach a Swiss curriculum in two equally-represented languages. For example, a school will teach one week in German and then one week in English, all the while progressing with the coursework.
These schools are not free, and can charge over 20,000 CHF in annual tuition.
These institutions are favoured by multilingual expat families, as well as those who'd like their young children to become proficient in more than one language.
Be sure to research these schools carefully before making a selection, as some of them claim a larger local attendance and some of them claim a larger international attendance. Keep in mind that schools with large international populations also claim large turnovers, which can be difficult for expat children who will be enrolled in the school on a long-term basis.
Also, some parents find that certain bilingual schools do not adequately prepare secondary students for university entrance exams. If this is the case, then it may be necessary to hire external private tutors.
Private schools in Switzerland (both day and boarding) are usually independent from government funding and come with high fees
attached. Many of these schools are incredibly well-esteemed, and some of the more exclusive Swiss boarding schools have even garnered prestigious international reputations.
Similar to private schools in other nations, these institutions usually offer smaller class sizes, more exceptional facilities, and a more stimulating, personalised learning environment.
Private schools may offer the Swiss curriculum, the International Baccalaureate curriculum, or they may offer an international curriculum (in which case they'd be synonymous with an international school).
Despite the excellent standard of the Swiss public and private schools, many expats still prefer to send their children to international schools in Switzerland. These schools offer students the opportunity to continue with the teaching language and curriculum of their home country, and are truly the best option for those expats planning on spending a mere one or two years in the country.
International schools can be either day schools or boarding schools.
Most of Switzerland's large cities boast a number of international schools, but those in rural areas may not have any nearby options. Furthermore, given the recent influx of foreign workers to the landlocked-nation, demand for seats in these institutions has sky-rocketed.
Waiting lists, especially for the most prestigious schools, can be long, and expats should thus begin the enrolment process as soon as possible.
Additionally, the costs attached to international schools are high and increase as students age. Expats should plan on soliciting their employer for some sort of education stipend, or should be sure that their salary can cover the exorbitant tuition fees. Tuition for secondary students in select international schools can be as much as 35,000 CHF per year.
In short, expat parents can rest assured that the education their child receives while living abroad in Switzerland will be more than satisfactory. However, depending on their choice of school, it may also end up being one of their greatest expenses.
Public schools in Switzerland
Switzerland prides itself on its high standard of publicly-funded education. Most Swiss utilise these institutions, and expats living in the alpine nation are also able to take advantage of these tuition-free options as well.
Schooling in Switzerland begins with 1 to 2 years of optional pre-school ("kindergarten" or "école enfantine"), and is officially compulsory from the ages of 6 to 15.
Keep in mind that the system of public education in Switzerland is largely decentralised, and authority rests with each individual canton. It follows that the teaching language will vary according to the primary language spoken in the canton (either German, French, Italian or, in a small number of cases, Romansh). Public schools do not instruct in English, and do not devote an incredible amount of time to supporting students who cannot speak the primary teaching language.
Additionally, working expat parents with younger students often find the hours set by public Swiss schools inconvenient. The day typically ends early, at around 3.45pm, and students are sent home for lunch. Some schools offer supervised lunch hours and after-hours daycare for an extra charge.
In the end, public schools are usually a better option for expats who plan on living in Switzerland long-term, who have children who speak one of the official languages, or who have very young children who can assimilate into the culture quickly and who will be able to pick up the language easier.
That said, there is a large multilingual emphasis in all Swiss schools. Most institutions require students learn at least two other languages (usually English and another of the official Swiss languages) aside from the primary teaching language.
Bilingual schools in Switzerland
There are now a few bilingual schools in Switzerland that teach a Swiss curriculum in two equally-represented languages. For example, a school will teach one week in German and then one week in English, all the while progressing with the coursework.
These schools are not free, and can charge over 20,000 CHF in annual tuition.
These institutions are favoured by multilingual expat families, as well as those who'd like their young children to become proficient in more than one language.
Be sure to research these schools carefully before making a selection, as some of them claim a larger local attendance and some of them claim a larger international attendance. Keep in mind that schools with large international populations also claim large turnovers, which can be difficult for expat children who will be enrolled in the school on a long-term basis.
Also, some parents find that certain bilingual schools do not adequately prepare secondary students for university entrance exams. If this is the case, then it may be necessary to hire external private tutors.
Private schools in Switzerland
Private schools in Switzerland (both day and boarding) are usually independent from government funding and come with high fees
attached. Many of these schools are incredibly well-esteemed, and some of the more exclusive Swiss boarding schools have even garnered prestigious international reputations.Similar to private schools in other nations, these institutions usually offer smaller class sizes, more exceptional facilities, and a more stimulating, personalised learning environment.
Private schools may offer the Swiss curriculum, the International Baccalaureate curriculum, or they may offer an international curriculum (in which case they'd be synonymous with an international school).
International schools in Switzerland
Despite the excellent standard of the Swiss public and private schools, many expats still prefer to send their children to international schools in Switzerland. These schools offer students the opportunity to continue with the teaching language and curriculum of their home country, and are truly the best option for those expats planning on spending a mere one or two years in the country.
International schools can be either day schools or boarding schools.
Most of Switzerland's large cities boast a number of international schools, but those in rural areas may not have any nearby options. Furthermore, given the recent influx of foreign workers to the landlocked-nation, demand for seats in these institutions has sky-rocketed.
Waiting lists, especially for the most prestigious schools, can be long, and expats should thus begin the enrolment process as soon as possible.
Additionally, the costs attached to international schools are high and increase as students age. Expats should plan on soliciting their employer for some sort of education stipend, or should be sure that their salary can cover the exorbitant tuition fees. Tuition for secondary students in select international schools can be as much as 35,000 CHF per year.
