Switzerland the Individualist – A Classification with Some Colorings

Abstract

This chapter gathers information about the highly decentralized and deregulated education system in Switzerland. After a brief introduction giving a first glimpse of an education system organized in an individualistic way, we will then introduce the compulsory schooling of the education system. We will briefly explain the sources used to write this chapter. The main body of the chapter is organized in two parts. The first classifies the education system and underscores this classification with facts from diverse documents illustrating the principle characteristics of the system. In the second part, we explore the ways in which evidence and research are used in the educational context: in schools during performance measures and quality improvement, in teacher education and further education programs, by principals and in exchange among and within schools. We will close with key lessons and the highlight that collaboration and partnership are mutual processes forcing changes on both sides.

Citation

Zala-Mezö, E. and Egli, J. (2022), "Switzerland the Individualist – A Classification with Some Colorings", Brown, C. and Malin, J.R. (Ed.) The Emerald Handbook of Evidence-Informed Practice in Education, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 303-314. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80043-141-620221033