As Switzerland has developed over time from a loose confederation to a federal republic

there has been a strong nature to grant as much self-reliance as possible to the individual cantons.
There is not only one, but 26 similar, yet, slightly different educational systems in Switzerland.
The organization of schools, curriculum, and books differ extensively through the diverse
cantons (Jud, M. (Ed.). (n.d.)). Although the cantons have a few differences they do have a lot of
similarities. Universally Switzerland has no natural resources so education and knowledge has
become one of the countrys most important resource and one of the countrys top priorities as a
whole (Information about Education in Switzerland. (n.d.)).
The United Nations has three main priorities for education. They include expanding
access to education, improving the quality of learning and fostering global citizenship. The first
goal ensures that, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full
course of primary schooling (Priorities. (n.d.)). Switzerland is in compliance with this first goal
of the UN by making Elementary school mandatory. The federal constitution of 1848, in
Switzerland; guarantees that each canton has to provide at least 9 years of free schooling for
every child (Jud, M. (Ed.). (n.d.)). Although Elementary school is mandatory for all Swiss
children, kindergarten is not. This could be seen as either a downside in Switzerland education
system or a downside. Because children are not required to go to kindergarten, they could miss
out on a lot of social skills gained during the first years of school but one can argue that this is
false. Switzerland public schools systems are strong; they are more popular than private ones.
This is most probable due to the fact that public schools are seen as more upscale than the private
schools. Private schools are also more expensive yet they are easier to get into (Information
about Education in Switzerland. (n.d.)). The second goal of the UN is to ensure that schools are
engines of opportunity with the best teachers to secure a better quality of learning (Priorities.
(n.d.)). According to the Programme for International student assessment (PISA), Switzerland is
ranked 7
th
out of 36 countries on the student skills scale with an average of 518 test scores for
reading literacy, math and science. This is 26 points higher than the United States and 28 points
higher than Italy and Spain. This is impressive considering kindergarten is not required where as
in the United States it is required in most states. The quality of learning in Switzerland is also in
submission to the United Nations goals for their student skills are very high (Education. (n.d.)).
They also have a student to teacher ratio of 20 students per teacher which is a very excellent ratio
compared to the leading nations of Japan and Korea with approximately 30 students per teacher
(OECD Countries. (n.d.)). The third priority of the United Nations is to foster global citizenship.
This means that the education must fully assume its central role in helping people to forge more
than just a peaceful, tolerant, and inclusive society. It must give people the understanding, skills
and values they need to cooperate in resolving the interconnected challenges of the 21st century
(Priorities. (n.d.)). Switzerland has a great education system for the United Nations third
priority. Switzerlands education system is quite complex compared to many countries but there
is a higher thought process involved with the education system the country has created. After
elementary school grades 7
th
and 9
th
children can leave school and do something called
vocational training, also known as an apprenticeship. The key element for this idea is; practical
activity, instead of school. This way, students are put into jobs sooner to understand more skills
and values for challenges in real life situations preparing them for the real world. This also
offers them basic theory related to the profession they work with as well as languages, civic
education etc. (Jud, M. (Ed.). (n.d.).
Overall Switzerlands education system is pretty up to date and in agreement with the
United Nations although they could always improve in the UNs second and third goals. To do
so Switzerland should make sure every one of their teachers is well qualified for their positons.
They can also improve by incorporating more ways for students to foster global citizenship.