In Spain, the narrative is pretty clear from a young age: secondary school, university entrance exams, university. If you don’t follow that path, something has gone wrong. Vocational training exists, but culturally it has never enjoyed the same status. The underlying message has always been that vocational training was for those who couldn’t manage any better.
In Switzerland, things work differently. Around two-thirds of young Swiss people opt for an apprenticeship, a dual training programme that combines school and work for two, three or four years, depending on the trade. On completion, they receive a federal certificate (CFC or AFC), which is by no means a second-class qualification: it is a credential recognised throughout the labour market, offers good pay, and allows them to continue their studies if they wish via the Berufsmatura. There are apprentices who, after a few years, earn more than recent university graduates.
The system works because it is built in partnership with companies from the ground up. Trainees are paid from their first year, work in real-world conditions and learn exactly where they will eventually be working. Companies get involved because it is in their interests to do so, not out of philanthropy.
What baffles many Spaniards is the reaction of the Swiss when you tell them that your child has chosen an apprenticeship rather than going to university. There is no trace of pity in their response. Because here, nobody assumes that this is a lesser path. And that takes some getting used to.