Overwhelming approval for education reform
Exit polls released by the gfs institute show that 86 per cent of voters have said yes to changes to the Swiss education system.
The constitutional amendment aims to harmonise the different school systems and give the federal authorities a bigger say.
The polls indicate at least 23 of the 26 cantons voted in favour, paving the way for the reforms to be implemented. Changes to the constitution require a majority of the cantons as well as of the popular vote.
The authorities say the reform is intended to ensure high standards of education and remove obstacles for students moving to other schools, without infringing on the traditional autonomy of Switzerland’s 26 cantons in education matters.
Switzerland’s school system has come in for increasing criticism after the 2003 Pisa study, an international survey of educational standards among 15-year-olds, revealed what critics called serious shortcomings in reading, as well as considerable differences between the cantons.
The planned reforms include streamlining the total duration of compulsory schooling and the starting age for children, as well as the mutual recognition of diplomas and unified education standards.
Primary school to university
The federal authorities are to be given more power to force the cantons to cooperate at the level of compulsory schooling and for universities.
Approval of the proposal could pave the way for more family-friendly school structures and a solution to a dispute over the teaching of foreign languages.
The overwhelming majority of political parties and organisations, as well as parliament and the cabinet came out in favour of the education reform.
Supporters, such as parliamentarian Kathy Riklin, argue the regional differences stand in the way of an efficient system.
Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin and Economics Minister Joseph Deiss, who share responsibility on education and vocational training at a federal level, point out the need for reform to remain competitive on an international level and to boost science and research.
“Education is key to help ensure the prosperity of our country,” according to Couchepin.
The head of the cantonal education authorities, Hans Ulrich Stöckling, believes that the federal authorities could play a bigger role as their power is still restricted, leaving the cantons largely in control of education.
Fringe opposition
Opposition to the amendment came from some representatives of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, and several small groups from the far right and far left, including the Communist Labour Party.
“The proposal is an unacceptable attack on Switzerland’s federalist system. It’s the first step towards centralisation,” says People’s Party parliamentarian and teacher Oskar Freysinger.
He argues unified standards would bring down high education standards in some regions and a costly bureaucracy would stifle competition among cantons.
For his part, Communist parliamentarian Josef Zisyadis is concerned that the federal bureaucracy would impose a system lacking in practical relevance and that is out of parliamentary democratic control.
Foreign language
Also on Sunday, voters in two cantons, Zug and Thurgau, rejected proposals to limit the number of foreign languages taught at primary school level.
The electorate in the two cantons were effectively asked whether or not to make English the only non-national language up to grade six.
Foreign language teaching has been a bone of contention in multicultural Switzerland for years amid concerns that the national languages German, French, Italian and Romansh might lose out.
Eastern Switzerland, led by its economic hub Zurich, favours English as a first foreign language, while other regions have opted for a national language.
swissinfo
Under Switzerland’s federalist system the country’s 26 cantons enjoy a large degree of autonomy in education matters.
The Swiss education system is built on a complex interplay between the federal, cantonal and local authorities depending on the education level and the kind of institution.
All previous attempts to unify or harmonise the various educations systems have met resistance from the cantons. Voters rejected a proposal for unification in 1973.
Reforms planned for the Swiss education system:
National monitoring system for education
Unified education standards
Mutual recognition of diplomas
Compulsory kindergarten
Coordination of the starting age for children
Adaptation of school structures to society and family needs
Reform of universities
In compliance with the JTI standards
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