Cantons split on school harmonisation
Two cantons – Zug and Uri – have rejected an agreement on harmonising school systems across Switzerland. Bern has voted in favour.
The cantonal votes on joining the Harmos accord took place on Sunday.
Harmos sets the length of compulsory schooling in Switzerland at 11 years, including two years of kindergarten from age four. It also provides for timetable standardisation and childcare outside school hours.
Ten cantons had already given their backing to Harmos, paving the way for it to become law there.
The Harmos project was put forward by the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Directors of Education and challenged to a referendum by a cross-party committee.
In canton Bern three-quarters of pre-school children attend two years of non-obligatory kindergarten, while 95 per cent attend kindergarten in Zug. In Uri, on the other hand, just 15 per cent of children attend kindergarten for two years.
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