Compulsory school

In Switzerland, all children must go to school. In most cantons, compulsory schooling lasts 11 years. It begins at about the age of 4 with two years of kindergarten. Then come 6 years of primary school and 3 years of lower secondary school. This is set out in the HarmoS Agreement, an agreement between the cantons. The canton of Zurich applies it too.

State schools (Volksschule) are a matter for the cantons and municipalities. They are free of charge. The school management or the school board decides which class a child is placed in. The parents cannot simply choose a class. The children or the paediatrician do not decide this either. The school takes into account, for example, the size of the classes and the way to school.

Things that are not compulsory include day-care centres, baccalaureate school (Gymnasium, Maturitätsschule) and continuing education. After compulsory school, most young people do an apprenticeship. Others attend a baccalaureate school and then perhaps a university. With a vocational baccalaureate, you can also study after an apprenticeship.

Memory aid: 2 + 6 + 3 = 11: kindergarten, primary school, lower secondary school.