Education only for the privileged?

Post new topic

annemette Member

Member since 11 April 2011

annemetteMember06 March 2012 16:39:07

Hello everyone

Just wondering if someone could give me an idea or some advice regarding the schools in CH. We are a Danish/English family with 4 children (2, 9, 11 and 16) living in Denmark at the moment, but we dream of moving to CH as most of our work is there already and we travel a lot. Our kids go to extremely good private schools in Copenhagen, and I am not prepared to send them somewhere with a lower standard.

So far we have contacted all the English or International schools we could find online, but the fees for even one child for one year beyond ridiculous.

What do expats do w their kids if the school is not paid paid by the job? The thought of dumping the kids in a Swiss state school where they do not speak the language is not appealing either.

Does anyone know of private English speaking schools in CH for non millionaires? I am on the edge of giving up.

Just wondering if Switzerland is a country for the privileged few聟..

oiseaubleu Active member

Member since 13 January 2012

oiseaubleuActive member12 March 2012 12:12:22

Hi Annemette,

Yes private school are expensive.

In Switzerland the obligatory school have a good level and it's enough for everybody. For this reason, private school are independand and they don't become a lot of help from the government or any other institution.

If you can receive a financial support for the schooling of your children, private schools can inform you about steps(initiatives). If schools cannot help you for a stock exchange(grant), it is because it is not possible.

After all it depends of places where you want to settle down. In Switzerland, every canton is a little bit different. The simplest is to inform you by the canton which interests you.

List cantonals departments of the state education:

good luck

wildflowers Member

Member since 01 February 2012

wildflowersMember26 September 2012 01:19:22

Dear Annemette,

I would not calling it 'dumping' your kids in a public school. the public school system in Switzerland is very good and the private schools are indeed for the rich and priviledged.

Language, though, is a problem. Public schools are of course run in one of the four official languages, none of which is English.

Hope you find a good and payable solution for your children.

Best,

wildflowers

Articles to help you in your expat project in Switzerland

Universities in Geneva
Geneva's academic institutions benefit from the city's numerous international organizations and ...
Universities in Zurich
Zurich is famous for its high-quality higher education and outstanding research centers. For instance, ETH Zurich, ...
Study in Switzerland
Switzerland boasts several cantonal universities, federal institutes of technology, and prestigious private ...
Student life in Zurich
Despite being one of the most expensive cities in the world, Zurich provides a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere for ...
Student life in Geneva
Studying at one of Geneva's prestigious institutions is a rewarding experience. Once you're here, what ...
Study in Zurich
With 400,000 inhabitants only, Zurich is not only Switzerland's most densely populated city but also its ...
Developing your social circle in Geneva
Having recently arrived in Geneva, you might initially feel a bit isolated. Although the city is relatively quiet ...
Choosing your neighborhood in Geneva
Geneva is a multicultural city, with nearly 50% of its workforce coming from abroad, especially in its many ...