Covid-19 certificate requirements at Fribourg university ruled unconstitutional

The validity of a Covid-19 test result meant students had to take at least two tests a week to attend in-person lectures. Keystone / Martial Trezzini

During the pandemic university students in canton Fribourg had to present a Covid-19 certificate or a negative Covid-19 test to attend lectures in-person. Switzerland’s highest court has ruled this was unconstitutional.

From late 2021, students attending university and higher education institutions in canton Fribourg were required to present a Covid-19 certificate or valid negative Covid-19 test to be able to attend in-person lectures.

Twenty-two students filed a complaint against this requirement, adopted by decree by the Fribourg government. On Friday, The Federal Court ruled this requirement was unconstitutional.

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The condition to provide either a Covid-19 certificate or negative test result to attend courses was introduced in September 2021. Covid-19 tests were provided without charge only until October 2021.

After this, individuals had to purchase their own Covid-19 tests, each costing CHF30 ($34). The validity of a Covid-19 test result meant students had to take at least two tests per week to be able to attend in-person lectures. Over an entire semester, students would have to take at least 30 tests, or pay out a total of CHF840.

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The court ruling said students’ personal freedoms had been violated by the canton’s decision.

The court said it had been disproportionate to impose this additional financial burden on students who wanted to attend in-person lectures, without providing support for disadvantaged students. 

The Fribourg cantonal authorities reportedly plan to revise the earlier decree. A legal analysis is underway, a spokesperson for the Education and Cultural Affairs Department told Keystone-SDA news agency.