Public education in Switzerland is free, fully compulsory for 11 years and of excellent quality. However, its structure is very cantonal (each canton defines its study plan) and has a particularity: early professional guidance.
General Structure (HarmoS Model)
- Preschool (Ecole Enfantine / Kindergarten): Starts at 4 years old. There are 2 mandatory years of preparation.
- Primary School (Ecole Primaire / Primarschule): From 6 to 12 years old (grades 3 to 8). A second and third language (another national language and English) is quickly introduced.
- Secondary Grade I (Cycle d'Orientation / Sekundarstufe I): From 12 to 15 years old (grades 9 to 11).
Segregation or "Filières"
Unlike Spain, in Switzerland around the ages of 12 or 15, students are oriented ("segregated") according to their qualifications and aptitudes towards two very different paths:
- The vocational route (Vocational Training / Dual Apprenticeship): More than 60% of young Swiss people choose to do a "CFC" (Federal Certificate of Competency). They work 3 or 4 days in a company learning a trade and go to class for 1 or 2 days. It is a very prestigious and remunerative path from the beginning.
- The academic path (Gymnasium / Collège / Maturité / Matura): For those with better academic grades, preparing them to enter directly the University or the Federal Polytechnic Schools.
Note: The system is permeable; A vocational training student may end up gaining access to university in the future through "gateways".