Financing - Switzerland

Introduction

The financing of obligatory education in Switzerland falls under the responsibility of the cantons (provinces), together with the communities. Therefore, it is financed with locally collected tax revenues.

Concerning the financing of post-obligatory education, there is a difference between vocational training and higher education. Vocational training is financed by the cantons with a federal contribution Higher education is financed by the cantons, sometimes together with larger communities.

The financing of special needs education (SNE) is a matter of the cantons.

Phases of education

Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Intervention is defined as a special educational measure; in this context, the preparation for special education and for mainstream education is financed by the canton and by the community.

Compulsory Schooling

The financing of SNE is a matter of the cantons.

The Swiss parliament decided to change the funding. Consequently, the responsibility for funding is transferred entirely to the cantons, from the beginning of January 2008.

Source: Reorganisation of Financial Equalization and Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons (NFA)

Schooling for children with less severe special educational needs (e.g. learning problems), is provided in special classes (Kleinklassen), in different integrative forms, by means of support teaching (Stützunterricht) and therapies.

Financing: Usually community and canton share the costs. The provisions and financing schemes are based on cantonal legislation, which results in different models in the 26 cantons.

Transition period

The financing of SNE at the post-obligatory level depends on whether the adolescent is recognised by the Invalidity Insurance or not.

• Vocational training. Financing: Majority by the Invalidity Insurance (individual contributions; collective contributions to institutions offering basic vocational training), rest by canton.
• Higher education: Adolescents with less severe special educational needs (e.g. learning difficulties) are unlikely to participate in higher education. In principle, corresponding provisions would be financed by the cantons.

Financial Support

It should be noted, that despite the coming into force of the «Reorganisation of  Financial Equalization and Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons» (NFA) on1st of January 2008, the Swiss federal invalidity insurance scheme remains responsible for distributing benefits and supplementary benefits for initial occupational training for disabled juveniles qualifying under the criterions of the Swiss federal invalidity insurance scheme (IVG, Art. 16).