School and future: young people from Ticino are at risk of leaving (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• On August 31, Ticino schools begin again with thousands of students
• Young people struggle to become financially independent after training
• The Canton risks the flight of talent to other regions of Switzerland
• Training alone is not enough without competitive salaries and opportunities

Key facts

• What: Back to school in Ticino for children and teenagers
• When: Monday, August 31
• Where: Ticino (Italian-speaking Swiss canton)
• Who: Thousands of students from Ticino schools
• Central theme: Labour Market Preparation and Talent Retention
• Challenges: Low salaries, high rents, sick pay premiums (LAMal), economic independence
• Perspective: Connection between school education and concrete employment opportunities

Back to school and the question of the future

On Monday, August 31, Ticino schools will reopen their doors and thousands of children and teenagers will return to the benches with new backpacks, fresh books and the enthusiasm (or reluctance) of every beginning of the year. But behind this ordinary chronicle hides a much more urgent question, posed by columnist Elio Del Biaggio: what future are we really preparing for our young people?

This is not a trivial question. Education, according to Del Biaggio, does not consist only in transmitting knowledge. It means preparing children for concrete life, work, responsibility and autonomy. It means providing the tools to deal with a rapidly changing world. And

Operational details

Vocational training as a key element

The columnist underlines an important point that is often underestimated in the public debate: professional training (apprenticeship) is not a "series B" option for those who cannot afford or do not want to do higher education. A qualified apprenticeship can be a concrete and fast door to the labour market, with real career prospects and competitive salaries.

In this sense, the school has a dual responsibility: not only to transmit theoretical knowledge and technical skills, but also to restore social and economic value to the diversity of training courses. When a young person perceives that apprenticeship is seen as an inferior choice, they are less motivated to pursue it with commitment. On the contrary, if society (and the school) clearly communicates that this is also a legitimate and quality path, it increases the likelihood that the young person will develop concrete skills and find work more quickly.

Skills that are missing in the real world

Del Biaggio focuses attention on what he calls the "real world": young people leave school, but are often unprepared for rapid changes in the labour market. Professions are evolving, and digital skills are becoming central to almost every industry. Continuing education (career retraining) is increasingly necessary to stay competitive.

The school, therefore, should

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Key points

What must change in Ticino schools

The editorialist implicitly proposes a paradigm shift in education. Schools must continue to transmit solid knowledge, but they must also become a bridge between the theoretical world and the world of concrete work. This means preparing young people for professions that are constantly changing, emphasizing digital skills not as optional but as an essential part of any educational path, teaching that learning does not end with a diploma but is a continuous process, clearly valuing apprenticeships as a legitimate and quality path, and developing transversal skills that remain critical regardless of technology.

But all of this is secondary if the fundamental is missing: instilling in young people the confidence that their future can be built in Ticino, that merit truly matters, that opportunities exist and are concrete. Without this fundamental confidence, even the best school in the world will not retain talent.

Every year, when school starts again, the reflection should not be limited to 'what will our young people learn?'. It should include with equal weight: 'What will they find when they graduate? What job opportunities? What realistic salaries? What quality of life will they be able to afford given the current cost of living?'.

The concrete cost of living for young people

Young people from Ticino who complete their training must face a precise economic reality. It is not just about generic salary: you must subtract from that gross salary the mandatory contributions (AVS/AI, LPP/pension, accident insurance), federal, cantonal and municipal taxes, the concrete cost of living (rising rents, health insurance premiums via LAMal, food, transportation, utilities).

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