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SCHOOLS

Italian ‘ignored’ by Swiss schools in language wars

The minister of education in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino has said Switzerland often ‘forgets’ that Italian is its third national language.

Published: 11 July 2016 11:32 CEST
Italian ‘ignored’ by Swiss schools in language wars
Photo: Kathleen Waters

Speaking to the Schwiez am Sonntag newspaper, Manuele Bertoli said “many people seem to forget” that Switzerland is not bilingual (meaning German and French), but that Italian is also a national language.

His comments come amid a row over what languages should be taught to children in primary school.

The long-running row centres around several cantons in the German-speaking part of the country who don’t want to teach French at primary school, preferring pupils to start learning English instead.

The move goes against a 2004 federal education strategy, approved by the cantons, which decreed that two languages should be taught at primary school, at least one of which should be a Swiss national language.

But citing lack of resources and time, some cantons including Thurgau are making plans to teach just one language, and say that one should be English.

Though education policy is generally set at cantonal level, the row was inflamed last week when the federal government said it would intervene if the cantons failed to prioritize national languages.  

In a statement, it said “multilingualism is an essential characteristic of Switzerland” that is  “clearly underlined” by the federal constitution which decrees the “safeguarding and promotion of national languages as well as the promotion of understanding between linguistic communities”.

The federal government will now lead a consultation period aiming to find an agreement with the cantons that prioritizes the teaching of national languages at primary school. If no agreement is found, it will look to impose its own solution, it said.

The government’s stance enraged commentators in the Sunday papers, with the media denouncing the “hysterical” and “unhelpful” reaction of the government on the issue.

In an opinion piece for Schweiz am Sonntag, editor Yannick Noak agreed that speaking a second language fosters a sense of community within the country, but that language didn’t have to be French.

“To prove my point, I continue in English” he wrote. “It may not be perfect but I am sure most readers in the German or the French speaking part are able to follow me effortlessly.

“I do not wish to offend anybody but I am not so sure this would still be the case in French. It would be agony, at least for me.”

“A genuine connection to another person is more easily made when both parties make one step towards the other, not insist on their own language,” he added.

Amid the furore, Ticino’s education minister is now insisting that Italian should also be taught in the French and German speaking regions.

If the government wants to promote national languages, then Italian should be offered in all schools, at least as an option, Bertoli is quoted as saying by Le Matin.

Agreeing with the minister, socialist party MP Mathias Reynard told Le Matin that “in general we don’t do enough for the country’s languages and we must not forget Italian”.

The row has bemused French-speaking cantons, which generally teach German first, followed by English, in keeping with the 2004 strategy.

Back in May a survey showed that some people in Switzerland never cross the linguistic Röstigraben between French and German speaking areas.

It also revealed the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino to be unpopular with French-speakers, with only half of those in Romandie having ever been there.

Switzerland does of course have a fourth national language, Romansh.

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SCHOOLS

Swiss school or international school: Which is best for foreign parents?

A big question for foreign parents moving to Switzerland is whether to send their children to a Swiss state school or to an international school. Here’s what you need to know.

Published: 17 August 2023 10:04 CEST
Updated: 6 September 2023 16:32 CEST
Swiss school or international school: Which is best for foreign parents?

International schools were originally founded for diplomats and foreign staff on the lookout for an English-speaking school to make the transition easier on their offspring.

Eventually, Switzerland’s international schools gained traction and began to attract the attention of many parents – even locals. Today they count among the most prestigious (and expensive) private schools worldwide.

First, let’s look at some of the advantages of an international school when compared to a state-run public school in Switzerland.

In general, Swiss-based international schools offer not only specially selected subjects, but also a better teacher-student ratio due to smaller classes, better equipment well as extracurricular activities ranging from tennis to drama lessons which not available in state-run local schools.

Moreover, private schools have so far been spared the teacher shortage which has taken over state-run schools. This in turn may lead to wealthier parents opting to choose a privately-run school to better secure their children’s future, according to the President of the Teachers’ Association Dagmar Rösler.

Still, there are a few things foreigners should consider before signing up their school-aged children to attend an international (or public) school.

Duration of your stay

If you are only moving to Switzerland for a short time and plan to relocate to your home country thereafter, an international school may prove just the right fit for your child as it could ease reintegration into their local school system.

Language and integration 

Switzerland-based international schools are – for the most part – run in English with the odd exception offering a bilingual course in the local language paired with English. However, they will offer other languages in the curriculum. 

If you plan to stay long-term or even settle down in Switzerland, it will be important for your child to integrate, and while this is possible when attending an international school, it will be much easier in a native environment – such as a state-run school – where your child is instructed in the local language.

This also enables your child to meet, interact and practice local languages with Swiss pupils as 95 percent of Swiss parents opt to send their children to state-run schools.

Additionally, most state-run schools offer additional language classes for foreign students.

Remember that while your child may feel more comfortable being in an international environment, this could make them feel isolated from Swiss culture in the long run.

You also should think about your child’s personality and what they might prefer or excel in. 

READ MORE: 5 things you never knew about Switzerland’s school system

A student carries books.

A student carries books. Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

School set-up

The majority of international schools in Switzerland classify as so-called ‘day’ schools, meaning that students will stay at the school during their lunch break with lunch being included (and provided) within the school fees.

Local state-run schools, however, expect their students to head home during their lunch break and no meals are offered at those schools. This can prove complicate depending on the parent or caregiver’s work schedules.

It’s also a good idea to research how the schools are run. In Switzerland, cantons are responsible for public schooling and there can be differences depending on the region. 

For instance, Studying in Switzerland reports that in German-speaking cantons, “kindergarten and two years of primary education are combined into the first learning cycle, and students aged four to eight years are in the same class. They call this Grundstufe or Basisstufe.”

In the French-speaking cantons, two years of kindergarten are combined with two other years to make the first cycle of primary education/

Meanwhile, in the Italian-speaking cantons “children attend kindergarten from the age of four”, says the site aimed at students and families considering Switzerland as a place to study. 

At international schools, institutions often follow a particular country’s educational philosophy. For example, it may be based on American, British, French or Japanese school systems. 

Distance

Switzerland’s public schools are usually in proximity to your home where your child should have easy access (by public transport) to the school. In fact, it is common for school-aged children to walk to school alongside their classmates rather than choosing to hop on a bus.

International schools will require you to arrange transportation – such as a school bus – and can be a hassle for your child to reach.

Cost

While it won’t be news to parents living in Switzerland who send their children to private schools, doing so is expensive – so expensive in fact that not only is Switzerland the most expensive country in Europe for international schools, but it is also home to the most expensive city for international schooling – Zurich.

Last year, a report, compiled by International Schools Database (ISD), compared the costs of international schools (in USD) in cities and countries across the globe. 

Switzerland faced no real rivals in Europe for top spot, particularly considering that the three most expensive cities for international schools on the continent were all based in Switzerland. 

Zurich took top spot with a median price of CHF 25,570, while Lausanne was in second (24,250 francs ) and Geneva was in third (23,366 francs). 

Meanwhile, state-run schools in Switzerland are free of charge.

READ MORE:

Admission

If you have chosen to send your child to an international school, you will need to apply in order for your child to be admitted.

This will largely depend on how many places are available at any given time. It is usually recommended to check the application criteria for your chosen school and apply early to get ahead of the competition.

State-run schools guarantee admission for children of mandatory school age.

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