Education & Schooling in Zürich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne & Zug

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Education & Schooling in Zürich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne & Zug

Swiss law provides that every child in the country has a right to education or training appropriate to their abilities. 

Education is managed on a cantonal basis and below is information that looks at the general cantonal responsibility, followed by an overview of the education system with detailed information on the system and process of enrolment for the Cantons of Zürich, Zug, Lucerne, Basel and Berne.

There is information on the system of childcare outside school hours (what is available and how to make use of it), information on school holidays in German-speaking Switzerland and an introduction to private schooling. Finally, find out about the school medical service, where to address queries about the schooling system and the provision for special needs education in the cantons.

Cantonal Responsibility

Provision and management of state (public) education is the responsibility of the cantons. All the public educational institutions of the cantons are administered by the cantonal departments of education. There are variations in education systems between the cantons.

Each canton has its own laws relating to schooling and a cantonal Department of Education that supervises how the commune administers pre-, primary and secondary schools. 

Nevertheless, the cantons are trying to standardise their practice in the areas of compulsory schooling (duration, starting age, general curriculum) and in the recognition of equivalent certificates and diplomas. 

Private (independent) schools are likewise subject to cantonal law. pre-, primary and secondary schools are overseen by the communes, under cantonal supervision.

• For information on private schools from the Swiss Federation of Private Schools: Click here

Organisation

The communes ensure that each child can attend the state school in their commune of residence or at least the one nearest the child's home.

Information relating to pre-, primary and secondary schools (admission, rules, transportation) and to the different schools and colleges is provided by the school authorities in each commune. Information is also available from the director of education of the relevant canton.

The vocational guidance services of each canton can provide information on the various schools, colleges and training and specialist facilities available to a student once compulsory education is completed.

• See The Swiss Portal (government website): Education Administrative Channels

Education Overview

The period of compulsory schooling lasts for nine years and consists of primary school and secondary school in all cantons. Attendance is mandatory and free of charge for all children, including foreign nationals. 

• Every child has the opportunity to attend pre-school (kindergarten or Vorschulstufen) for one or two years
• On reaching six years of age, the child may continue to the compulsory school stage which lasts from age six to fifteen
• After that (15 years of age and older), the pupil must choose: 
  • vocational training 
  • a college of further education or 
  • study for a vocational school-leaving certificate

Induction classes are available for children with little or no knowledge of German. Suitable teaching brings them up to a certain standard and enables them to be integrated into the normal system.

Childcare, Crèche, Nursery school, Kindergarten

There is a distinction in Switzerland between pre-school (Kindergarten, or Vorschulstufen) and childcare outside the family (childminders, day-care mothers, crèches, playgroups and Spielgruppen or nursery schools). These facilities are sometimes run by the communes and frequently by private organisations. After the age of 4 years and one month, children can go to pre-school. 

Information about what options are available can be obtained from social services of the relevant commune. 

For a list of addresses of crèches, kindergartens or nursery schools contact the individual canton's education department (Bildungsdirektion or Bildungsdepartement):

Pre-School, Kindergarten 

Every child has the opportunity to attend pre-school for one or two years before starting compulsory schooling. Pre-school is free of charge. Pre-schools take children from the age of four onwards and are the responsibility of the school authorities of the communes (or the local administration). Foreign, newly-arrived children need to provide a health insurance certificate before they can be enrolled.

• Comprehensive information from The Swiss Education Server

Primary Level

This is the first part of compulsory education. A child may begin primary schooling at age six (no younger).

• Comprehensive information from The Swiss Education Server

Lower Secondary Level

This is the second part of the compulsory education. The Lower Secondary Level provides a basic general education for children up to the age of 16. It is divided into three difficulty levels depending on the child's abilities.

• Comprehensive information from The Swiss Education Server

Upper Secondary Level

The Upper Secondary Level is split up into general education and vocational education.

• Comprehensive information from The Swiss Education Server

Education in the Canton of of Zürich, Basel, Berne, Lucerne and Zug

Some of the cantons in German-speaking Switzerland have different names for the different education levels. The most common are known as: 

• Vorschulestufe or Kindergarten (4 to 6 years old)
• Primarschule (6 to 12 years old)
• Sekundarstufe 1 (12 to 15 years old)
• Sekundarstufe 2 (after 16 years of age)

Note these ages may vary slightly from canton to canton.

In Lucerne, the education levels after kindergarten are known as:

• Realschule 
• Secondar 
• Kanti 

In Basel, kindergarten is mandatory for two years. Children begin in August of the year that they will turn five. After four years of primary school, Primarschule, children go on to Orientierungsschule for three years. They then choose between Weiterbildungsschule, a preparation for vocational training, which lasts two years, or Gymnasium, which involves five years of schooling in preparation for the Matura.  

• For further information from the official Basel website: Click here  

Enrolment in pre-school

Necessary documents:

• Proof of health and accidents insurance
• Residence permit

For international civil servants, an Arbeitsbewilligung or a certificate from the parent's workplace for the tutor and child as proof of residence. Parents should be aware of the deadlines for enrolment in pre-school (normally at the beginning of the year). Children who have reached the age of four on 30 June of the calendar year may be enrolled for the school year starting in August of the same calendar year. Parents may request a derogation to delay enrolment for children born between 1 July and 31 October.

For enrolment in a private pre-school a birth certificate may be required.

Information about enrolment and other formalities can be obtained from the Bildungsdepartement or Bildungsdirektion  in your canton. 

Enrolment in Primary and Secondary school 

Every child registered in German-speaking Switzerland and under 15 years old must attend school. Children who have reached the age of six on 30 June of the calendar year must be enrolled in primary school for the school year starting in August of the same calendar year. 

To enrol in primary and secondary school the following documents are needed:

• Proof of health and accidents insurance
• Residence permit. For international civil servants, an Arbeitsbewilligung or a certificate from the parent's workplace for the tutor and child
• Private schools may require a birth certificate

Non-resident students have to attend the primary or secondary school of their area.

Childcare Outside School Hours

In some communes childcare facilities are available outside of school hours for the children of working parents. Information about what possibilities are available can be obtained from social services or the school department of the relevant commune.

School Holidays

In German-speaking Switzerland the school year begins between mid August and the end of August.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page School Holidays in Zürich, Basel, Berne, Lucerne and Zug

Private Schools (Privatschulen)

Private (independent) schools must provide the same level of education as state schools. All educational establishments teaching children of compulsory school age are the responsibility of the cantonal department of education.

• See The AngloFILE category Schools & Schooling
• Some private schools are listed on the website of the Swiss Federation of Private Schools (SFPS)

School Medical Service

Each commune organises a school medical and dental service, which carries out check-ups on pupils at regular intervals. In addition, most communes run a social-medicine centre or a school psychological service. School medical insurance is included in all general Swiss health insurance policies.

Queries About School

In the first instance parents should turn to the class teacher, who can advise them on how the class functions, on the curriculum, and on any individual problems that may arise. 

Parents can address more general queries or concerns to the commune office responsible for the school. When disputes or problems arise, mediation and counselling is provided by the schools' inspector.

Special Needs Education

There are special types of schooling for children and young people who cannot meet the usual school standards or who need special educational programs to do so. General compulsory education applies also to children and young people with visual and hearing impairments, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental retardation, speech disorders, and behavioural disorders. 

There are about 100 centres for early childhood special education which are sponsored not only by associations and foundations but also by communes and cantons.

• Comprehensive information from The Swiss Education Server

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Special Needs Education in Zürich, Zug, Lucerne, Basel and Berne

Types of Special Needs Schooling

The cantons are responsible for special needs schooling. Special needs schooling includes:

• Schools that are subsidised by invalidity insurance (schools for mentally impaired children and young people, schools for the physically disabled, behaviourally disordered, hearing impaired, speech impaired, visually handicapped, and chronically ill children and young people)
• Special needs classes, which are closely linked to the regular school (introductory classes, at the lower secondary level, among others)
• Outpatient special needs guidance counselling, and therapy facilities (special needs educational supportive instruction, individual special needs instruction, help with lessons; speech therapy and the treatment of dyslexia; therapeutic exercise; school psychological counselling, among others).

Further Information

• The Swiss Portal (federal government website) provides detailed information on education in Switzerland and on the specific authority in each commune. Click here and select from the menu on the left
• The Swiss Education Server: Comprehensive information on the Swiss education system in all cantons
• School authorities in Canton Zürich (in German)
• The Basel City website has comprehensive information on the Swiss schooling system: Click here 
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Education & Schooling in France