Public and private schools
In Switzerland, there is no national school system, as the schools are run by the cantons. In Basel-Stadt, the primary goal for schools is to give the children a good start to a professional career. Parents are considered partners of the school. Employers and training companies are also in close contact with the intermediate schools. 50% of all teenagers start an apprenticeship after leaving school. This is the school system in Basel:
Kindergarten: 2 years
Children start their mandatory two years of kindergarten in August of the year in which they will turn 5. In the 130 state kindergartens, class hours from Monday to Friday, 8 to 12, plus one afternoon from 14 to 16. Every child can attend a kindergarten in easy walking distance of its home or day care address. There is after class child care in every neighbourhood.
Primarschule: 4 years
After kindergarten, the children start primary school. Class hours are from Monday to Friday, 8 to 12, and on one afternoon, 14 to 16. There are day care centres in every neighbourhood, so that children can stay on after class. Children go to a school near in easy walking distance from home. There is after class child care in every neighbourhood.
Orientierungsschule: 3 years
Orientierungsschule is a step up for the children. Class hours are longer, and in the main subjects German, French and Mathematics, 3rd year students are split into two levels. There are day care centres in every neighbourhood, so that children can stay on after class.
Weiterbildungsschule (2 years) or Gymnasium (5 years)
After Orientierungsschule, part of the students move on to the two levels of Weiterbildungsschule (WBS, A- and E-Zug), where they prepare to move on to a higher secondary school or to vocational training. The rest of the students move on to Gymnasium for the next five years, where they graduate with a Maturität or baccalaureate. From there, students can go on to study at any university.
Basel-Stadt and the neighbouring cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Aargau and Solothurn are planning to coordinate and unify their school systems However, this process will not start before 2011.
Fachmaturitätsschule/Intermediate College
After 11 mandatory years at school (including Kindergarten), students can move on to an intermediate college: The Fachmaturitätsschule (FMS) offers students a choice of six courses, leading to specific professional fields. With a degree from the Fachmaturitätsschule, students can go on to study at a college of higher education or, with a so-called Fachmaturität (technical baccalaureate), at any of several Universities of Applied Sciences.
Vocational training
Vocational training programmes – or apprenticeships – entail a mix of schoolwork and practical experience. Such apprenticeships can begin after the 11th year of schooling (including Kindergarten). Depending upon the particular vocation, they last between two and four years. One or two days each week are dedicated to schoolwork, with teaching provided at a variety of schools specialising in different subjects. Apprentices spend the remainder of their time acquiring work experience in commercial enterprises. At the end of the apprenticeship, students are awarded either a eidgenössisches Berufsattest (after 2 years) or an eidgenössisches Fähigkeitszeugnis (after 3 or 4 years). Both are recognised throughout Switzerland. Following completion of this training, students can improve their vocational qualifications at higher schools. Alternatively, if they pass the vocational baccalaureate exam, students can even go on to a University of Applied Sciences. There is also a possibility to complete the international baccalaureate for access to all universities.
Vocational training is also possible at a full time school: The Handelsmittelschule (HMS, Commercial College) offers training in the fields of trade and commerce, the Informatikmittelschule (IMS, IT-College) specialises in IT and computer sciences, and the Schule für Gestaltung offers special courses for future designers. All students are awarded an eidgenössisches Fähigkeitszeugnis at the end of their courses, and can pass a vocational baccalaureate.
School holidays
Pupils have about twelve weeks of vacation spread over the whole year: six weeks in the summer, from July to mid-August, two weeks during the first half of October, one to two weeks over Christmas and new-year, and one to two weeks in the spring around Easter. During the school year, many schools organise holiday camps.
Private schools
Several private schools complement the system of public schools in Basel, among others the international schools and the Rudolf Steiner Schools. The private schools cover all stages. The Maturität or baccalaureate is passed according to federal regulations.
Freies Gymnasium
Minerva Schulen
Rudolf Steiner Schulen
Interessengemeinschaft Basler Privatschulen
SIS Swiss International School
ipso
There are also a number of private language, computer or commercial schools.
Bénédict-Schule Basel
Berlitz Sprachschule
NSH Bildungszentrum Basel
