French teaching in schools: cantons defend their autonomy

The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) has reaffirmed that language teaching in schools should remain a cantonal responsibility. The position, submitted to the Federal Council as part of the ongoing consultation, follows the government's discontent in recent months over the decision by several German-speaking cantons to postpone French teaching.

French has been taught since primary school for years in much of German-speaking Switzerland, under a long-established model. Recently, however, several cantonal parliaments, including those of Zurich, St. Gallen, Schwyz and Thurgau, have decided to abandon this approach and move French teaching to secondary school. In response to this trend, the Federal Council has chosen to intervene, even though education traditionally falls under cantonal authority.

Two options under consultation

The government has put two possible solutions out for consultation. The first would enshrine in law the obligation to teach, in primary school and in addition to the mother tongue, a second national language and English, as already provided for under the intercantonal HarmoS agreement. The second would set only a minimum requirement: teaching a second national language from primary school until the end of lower secondary school.

The EDK has decided not to take a position in favour of either variant, so that each canton remains free to express its own view during the consultation. On principle, however, the Conference disputes the Confederation's intervention, calling it disproportionate and politically inopportune. According to the cantons, intercantonal cooperation already makes it possible to guarantee, in full autonomy, the teaching of a second language from primary school onward.

The consultation on the Federal Council's plan will close on 5 October.