Switzerland is a federal government. As such, the education is mainly funded by the government. As a result, Switzerland has a largely decentralized education system. Most decisions on the running of primary and secondary schools are taken at cantonal level. It is also the cantons which provide the bulk of the financing.

Switzerland does not have a federal minister of education. Nevertheless, some organizational aspects of the education system apply across the country. These include the duration of the school year, and the number of years of compulsory schooling.

In other areas the cantons, and even the communes, have traditionally enjoyed a large degree of autonomy.

Each canton has its own head of education, all of whom together make up the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK in German). The EDK plays an important role in discussing and coordinating education policy, and in stressing certain key values.

The Swiss educational system is divided into four stages: preschool, primary, Secondary I, Secondary II, tertiary and adult education.

The second and third stages are compulsory and last for nine years. Although private schools exist, the majority of children attend state-run schools.

The preschool stage or Kindergarten is financed largely by the communality. Depending on the canton, children have the right to one or two years of kindergarten education before starting compulsory schooling.

The age at which children start primary school varies by canton; the youngest is 6. The number of years spent also varies: in most cantons it is 6 years, but in others it is 5 or 4.

At the age of 16, students who wish to continue their education move into Secondary II, which generally lasts 3-4 years. The vast majority of young people follow some kind of Secondary II course: in the year 2001/02, 90% of young people gained a diploma after completing studies or training at this level.

Secondary II either provides vocational training for direct entry into the labor market, or prepares students for tertiary education.

However, about 25% of school leavers do not proceed directly into Secondary II, but take a break which may take the form of an extra school year, pre-apprenticeship or a stay in one of the other language regions. Research shows that it is mainly young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and foreign migrants who choose this option – irrespective of their grades.

Switzerland offers a broad choice to students at the level of higher or tertiary education. A vertical distinction can be made between general education and professional education, and as far as professional education is concerned, a horizontal distinction can be made between universities and technical schools.

Professional education falls into two categories. On the one hand, the Universities of Applied Sciences offer professional training at university level; on the other hand, the higher technical schools provide professional or occupational qualifications. Most of the latter type are supported by the relevant professional trade associations, which are responsible for setting and validating the examinations.

Switzerland is adapting its education system to keep pace with globalization and growing partnership with other countries. The aim of the education provided is not only to ensure that pupils possess the necessary knowledge, but that they are able to adapt to new circumstances in a rapidly changing world.

This includes improving reading and writing in the mother tongue.

One of the most controversial changes proposed in recent years is the introduction of English in primary school. Traditionally, the first foreign language in school was always one of the other two national languages.

The move to promote primary school English came from Zurich's head of education in 2000. Some German speaking cantons followed Zurich's lead, which was fiercely resisted by French speakers.

Objections to the scheme are twofold:

The promotion of a non-Swiss language threatens national unity

Children in the second year of schooling are too young to start a new language.

An additional problem is the lack of primary school teachers qualified in English.

Supporters of the scheme answer the objections by saying:

• that English is an international language which children need to know. They will in any case learn a second Swiss language later.

• that young children learn languages easily. English is taught in a fun way, and is regarded as "cool".

In any case, since the human brain is better suited to learn languages at an early age, it is intended that children should start two foreign languages at primary school.

Another change to the syllabus has been the introduction of IT, generally at Secondary I level. But some cantons are using IT as a tool at primary level.

The teaching of religious knowledge has provoked controversy. In some cantons it has been squeezed out completely as a compulsory subject for financial reasons; in others the debate has centered on whether only Christianity should be included on the syllabus, or whether it should be broadened to reflect the changing religious landscape.