https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed While it is not one of Switzerland’s four national languages, the use of English has nevertheless become more widespread in recent years, especially in certain cities. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251010/in-numbers-how-english-is-becoming-more-prevalent-in-swiss-cities Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:06:28 +0200 in-numbers-how-english-is-becoming-more-prevalent-in-swiss-cities English is the main foreign language (aside from national ones) being taught in Swiss secondary schools, but how many hours do students get each week? Tell us your own experiences below. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250911/how-well-is-english-taught-in-switzerlands-secondary-schools Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:48:55 +0200 how-well-is-english-taught-in-switzerlands-secondary-schools From 2026, children of cross-border commuters from France will no longer be taught in Swiss schools – namely in Geneva - as has been the case until now. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250820/go-to-school-where-you-live-geneva-to-ban-students-living-in-france Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:38:21 +0200 go-to-school-where-you-live-geneva-to-ban-students-living-in-france The new school year starts in August in Switzerland after an average of six weeks of summer holidays, but some cantons give more (or less) time off than others. So when do kids go back to school in each of the country's 26 cantons? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250627/key-dates-when-are-the-summer-school-holidays-across-switzerlands-cantons Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:49:57 +0200 key-dates-when-are-the-summer-school-holidays-across-switzerlands-cantons Out of 19 German-speaking cantons, only 12 currently teach French as a second language in primary schools, and more are thinking of abandoning it in favour of English, which has angered critics. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250729/not-teaching-french-in-swiss-german-schools-could-weaken-national-cohesion Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:55:25 +0200 not-teaching-french-in-swiss-german-schools-could-weaken-national-cohesion Two Swiss cantons are considering changing the school calendar to prevent students from returning to classes during a heatwave. They want to get school districts across Switzerland to do the same. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250702/could-swiss-cantons-reschedule-summer-holidays-to-avoid-heatwaves Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:25:15 +0200 could-swiss-cantons-reschedule-summer-holidays-to-avoid-heatwaves From the beginning of the new school year on August 18th, students in public schools in the Swiss canton of Geneva will no longer be allowed to use smartphones on school grounds. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250630/geneva-bans-mobile-phones-in-secondary-schools Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:21:53 +0200 geneva-bans-mobile-phones-in-secondary-schools Switzerland’s legislators have already started to address the question of whether children should have access to social media sites, but what does the country’s population think? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250512/should-switzerland-ban-schoolchildren-from-accessing-social-media-sites Mon, 12 May 2025 17:35:57 +0200 should-switzerland-ban-schoolchildren-from-accessing-social-media-sites Swiss schools take a tough stance on parents who take their children out of class to go on holiday, or to extend their vacation time. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250423/what-could-happen-if-children-miss-school-in-switzerland-during-term-time Wed, 23 Apr 2025 14:24:06 +0200 what-could-happen-if-children-miss-school-in-switzerland-during-term-time You may be wondering what salary your child’s teacher receives in Switzerland. Here are some answers. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240819/how-much-do-teachers-earn-in-switzerland Mon, 19 Aug 2024 15:35:36 +0200 how-much-do-teachers-earn-in-switzerland Does Switzerland allow parents to take children out of school so they can go on holiday, or to extend their vacation time? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230802/what-are-the-rules-on-taking-your-child-out-of-school-in-switzerland-to-go-on-holiday Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:22:14 +0200 what-are-the-rules-on-taking-your-child-out-of-school-in-switzerland-to-go-on-holiday In Switzerland, the beginning of the new school year varies between the country's 26 cantons. And while some children get several months off, others get just a few weeks. So when do kids go back to school in each canton this year? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240802/key-dates-when-do-schools-reopen-in-switzerland-after-summer Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:00:35 +0200 key-dates-when-do-schools-reopen-in-switzerland-after-summer Switzerland’s Liberal-Radical party (FDP have come up with a radical proposal to scrap English and French lessons for primary school children arguing they do more harm than good. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240619/why-is-there-a-move-for-swiss-schools-to-abandon-useless-english-lessons Wed, 19 Jun 2024 18:47:31 +0200 why-is-there-a-move-for-swiss-schools-to-abandon-useless-english-lessons Apart from Ticino and Valais, where schoolchildren are already on their summer break, kids in the other Swiss cantons will start their vacation on various dates throughout July. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240627/when-are-schools-on-holiday-this-summer-throughout-switzerland Thu, 27 Jun 2024 16:01:09 +0200 when-are-schools-on-holiday-this-summer-throughout-switzerland Switzerland is home to scores of private international schools but they don't come cheap. Share your own views on whether you think they are worth the money or whether public schools provide a better option. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240618/have-your-say-are-international-schools-in-switzerland-worth-the-price Tue, 18 Jun 2024 19:42:25 +0200 have-your-say-are-international-schools-in-switzerland-worth-the-price English is one of the obligatory foreign languages taught to children in all public schools in Switzerland. But from what age is it taught in Swiss primary schools and does it depend on where you are in the country? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240620/what-are-the-rules-for-teaching-english-in-swiss-primary-schools Thu, 20 Jun 2024 18:26:15 +0200 what-are-the-rules-for-teaching-english-in-swiss-primary-schools Sending your child to an international school in Switzerland doesn’t exactly come cheap; in fact, it is the most expensive country in Europe for this kind of education. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240613/why-are-international-schools-in-switzerland-the-most-expensive-in-europe Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:43:55 +0200 why-are-international-schools-in-switzerland-the-most-expensive-in-europe More Swiss cantons are hiring teachers from abroad, but candidates must meet certain criteria. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240507/how-can-a-foreign-teacher-find-work-in-a-swiss-school-or-university Tue, 07 May 2024 17:05:29 +0200 how-can-a-foreign-teacher-find-work-in-a-swiss-school-or-university Too few teachers are being trained in Switzerland, with an important shortage expected by 2031. How is this situation dealt with? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240506/swiss-cantons-move-to-hire-more-foreign-teachers Mon, 06 May 2024 18:09:05 +0200 swiss-cantons-move-to-hire-more-foreign-teachers Most kids in Switzerland are vaccinated against common childhood illnesses. But some parents choose not to do so. Can their schools force them? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240411/can-swiss-schools-force-you-to-vaccinate-your-children Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:48:19 +0200 can-swiss-schools-force-you-to-vaccinate-your-children