Zurich bans headscarves and cell phones in schools

Context

In brief

• Zurich approves veil and mobile phone ban at school with narrow votes (87-82, 92-82)
• Aargau had already approved veil ban a week earlier (78-54)
• Zurich government has 2 years to develop laws compliant with Constitution

Key facts

• What: Ban on wearing veils in public schools/kindergartens for girls and women; ban on mobile phones in mandatory education
• When: Approvals today by Zurich Grand Council; Aargau a week earlier
• Where: Canton Zurich and Canton Aargau
• Who: UDC (veil motion), UDC + UDF (mobile phone postulate), State Councils
• Votes: 87 in favor-82 against-6 abstentions (veil); 92 in favor-82 against-2 abstentions (mobile phones)

The Zurich Grand Council approved today, with a narrow margin of 87 votes against 82 and six abstentions, a controversial motion by the Union of the Center that calls for a ban on wearing veils for girls and women in all public schools and kindergartens in the canton. Before the parliamentary debate, the Zurich State Council had already indicated its readiness to accept the motion and to draw up legislation compliant with the Constitution. The government now has two years to submit to Parliament a report and a legislative proposal.

The decision comes a week after the Aargau Grand Council had already accepted a similar motion, with 78 votes in favor and 54 against, tasking the cantonal government with drawing up a ban for female students of mandatory education up to the age of 16. In Aargau, however, the State Council had opposed it, arguing that legal obstacles exist, constitutional reservations and issues related to the jurisprudence of the Federal Court.

In the same session today, the Zurich Grand Council approved a second measure: with 92 votes in favor, 82 against and two abstentions, a postulate by the UDC and the Union of Democratic Forces passed, which calls for an absolute ban on mobile phones in mandatory education. The State Council will have to assess the adoption of binding guidelines at cantonal level, also with a two-year deadline to draw up a report.

Current situation: variety among municipalities

So far, individual Zurich municipalities have addressed the issue of digital devices in kindergartens and school institutions in very different ways, leaving room for fragmented local decisions. The mobile phone ban, as provided for in the approved postulate, would concern smartphones, tablets and notebooks at all levels, from kindergarten to the end of ninth grade. Crucial: the ban would not only apply during lessons, but also during breaks and in all day care facilities and support structures of schools and municipalities.

However, the postulate provides for some specific exceptions: the ban does not apply for documented health reasons. Also excluded are devices managed directly by the school and necessary for carrying out the lessons themselves. This means that if a female teacher uses a didactic tablet, or if a teacher uses devices for integrated learning, these remain permitted.

Operational details

Cantonal uniformity against local fragmentation

The approval of the two Zurich measures represents a significant change compared to the current fragmented situation. Today each municipality decides independently: some allow phones in breaks, others ban them completely, others still establish limitations for certain age groups. Cantonal legislation will create a uniform standard, eliminating municipal disparities and ensuring consistency throughout Zurich.

As for the veil, the Zurich decision represents a further strengthening compared to the Argovian motion: it is not limited to compulsory schooling until the age of 16, but extends the ban to all girls and women in schools and public kindergartens without specific age restrictions. This means that even high school students would be subject to the ban, a wider scope than in Aargau.

For families and students, this uniformity has advantages and disadvantages that affect the qualità della vita e del vivere in Svizzera. Regulatory certainty avoids confusion between municipalities, but at the same time reduces local flexibility and could clash with the specific needs of certain school contexts or individual situations.

The Remaining Constitutional Issues

The opposition of the Argovian State Council highlighted legal obstacles and constitutional reservations, with explicit references to the jurisprudence of the Federal Court. Although the Board of

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Key points

How Zurich Schools Will Change

If the cell phone ban were implemented, each Zurich school would need to comply with binding cantonal guidelines. School administrations would have to develop clear procedures for collecting and storing devices during school hours, communicate the new rules to parents and students, and define consequences for non-compliance. Health-related exceptions would require advance medical documentation from parents or guardians.

For the veil ban, if approved after the legislative process, school administrations would need to review internal regulations and communicate the change to affected families and students. Although the Zurich government has stated it will draft a constitutionally compliant law, the process remains complex and subject to possible legal challenges that could delay practical implementation.

Teachers and school principals will need specific training on how to implement the bans consistently, fairly, and respectfully. Schools will also need to address concrete situations: how to communicate the ban to students, how to manage initial resistance, how to handle potential conflicts with families.

What to Do Now: Parents, Students, and Teachers

For Zurich parents and students, the practical advice is straightforward: at least until the State Council presents its report (not before two years), current rules remain in effect. Each school will continue to apply its own local policies on cell phones and head coverings. The approved motions are not yet law; they represent only a mandate to the government to develop proposals.

Those living in other cantons should monitor their respective Grand Council decisions: Switzerland remains fragmented on these issues. If the Zurich-Aargau model were to spread, other cantons could follow in the coming years, but currently each canton maintains its own autonomy in school matters.

Next Steps: The Role of the Zurich State Council

The Zurich State Council must now begin work on drafting two separate reports: one on the veil ban in public schools and kindergartens, one on the cell phone ban in compulsory education. These reports will need to address questions of administrative feasibility, constitutional compliance, implementation costs, and likely consultations with concerned municipalities and school stakeholders.

Once presented to Parliament (within two years), genuine public and parliamentary debates will begin, where amendments could modify the terms of the bans. It is essential to follow official updates to understand how today's approved motions will translate into actual legislation.

To learn more about the impact of these decisions on daily school life and your rights, consult the calculators and resources on quality of life in Switzerland.

Source: tio.ch