There are differences among the sexes and nationalities.
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This means that in total, 53% of pupils with special educational needs received learning support in standard classes, 6% attended a special class and 41% went to a special school in 2017/8.
How it works
Over the past decade, Switzerland has introduced an inclusive educational approach for children with disabilities and learning difficulties, meaning that they may attend regular schools. But there are regional differences: education is overseen by the 26 cantonsExternal link in Switzerland which each have their own special needs concept. This can lead to some cantons more readily accepting special needs children into mainstream schools than others, as can be seen in the example of Carmen below.
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Inclusive education proves a success
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Many children with disabilities attend regular schools in Switzerland, but there are stark regional differences.
n the classroom, teachers usually receive support from qualified special needs teachers and assistants who focus on integrating learners into the regular class programme. Sometimes pupils will follow an adapted school curriculum if they are not able to reach the regular curriculum goals.
In all, almost 97% of pupils attend regular school, with just 3.3% going to separate schooling, be it a pre-school class (extra year between Kindergarten and primary school), a school class for non-native speakers (for foreigners who need to learn the local language quickly, available in some cantons), another special class in regular school or a special school, according to Tuesday’s statistics.
“Special schools now make up a minority in the Swiss school system (4.4% of educational institutions in obligatory education),” said the statement.
Some critics of inclusive education maintain that the other pupils risk falling behind when children with disabilities are integrated into a regular class, but overall experts believe that the practice works well. They say the idea is to have as much integration as possible, but separation when needed.
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Listening to deaf children’s needs
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In Switzerland many deaf pupils go to mainstream schools. But the Swiss Federation of the Deaf says that many pupils struggle with this approach.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
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The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
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In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
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As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
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After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
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A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
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The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
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Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
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Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
TradeXBank to resume full operations after Sberbank Switzerland taken off sanctions list
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TradeXBank, the former Swiss branch of Russia’s Sberbank, will be able to resume its dollar-denominated activities from the second half of this year.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
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The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
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What can be done about disruptive kids?
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Teachers are dealing with a rise in disruptive pupils in Switzerland, with problems already starting in kindergarten, reports say.
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Not all gifted children are receiving the support they need in Swiss schools. Time to take more action, the Federation of Swiss Teachers (LCH) says.
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At eight years old, Manarekha still has difficulty speaking and counting. But now she is helped by a pioneering school in the Swiss canton of Ticino.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.