It's time to go back to school in many cantons (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Classes begin in the cantons of Zurich, Inner Appenzell, Graubünden and others. - Ticino students will be the last to return.

Key facts

• What: Start of lessons in the cantons of Zurich, Inner Appenzell, Graubünden and others. - When: Monday. - Where: Cantons of Zurich, Inner Appenzell, Graubünden and others. - Who: Students and teachers.

On Monday, in several Swiss cantons, the new school year kicks off. The students from Freiburg and Ticino, on the other hand, are still on holiday and will be the last to return after the summer break. According to data from the Federal Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation, 75% of Swiss cantons have already started lessons.

The first school to open will be the elementary school in Zurich, which will host 1,500 students. Appenzello Interno's lower secondary school will follow shortly after, with 800 students. The cantons of Graubünden, Lucerne and Schaffhausen have also planned to start classes on Monday.

The Federal Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation has established that schools must comply with safety regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The cantons of Freiburg and Ticino, on the other hand, have decided to postpone the start of classes to 2 September.

Freiburg students will be the last to return, as their classes are scheduled for 2 September. The secondary school in Freiburg will host 2,000 students, who will be

Operational details

According to the Conference of Cantonal Directors and Directors of Education (EDK), this week classes begin in the cantons of Zurich, Appenzell Interior, Graubünden (except Mesolcina), Lucerne, Nidwald, Obwald, Uri, Zug, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel and Vaud, as well as in Upper Valais. This annual event marks the return to school routine for over 600,000 Swiss students.

The resumption of lessons is accompanied by safety measures to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this sense, the cantons have established a common protocol to manage any cases of infection. For example, in the Canton of Zurich, schools must have an emergency plan in case a pupil or teacher is positive. 📊

In the meantime, parents are asked to provide information on the health status of their children before the start of classes. This obligation is provided for by the federal law of 30 September 2021, which requires the communication of any cases of infection to school leaders within 24 hours of the start of classes. ⚠️

In the Canton of Vaud, parents are also asked to provide information on the vaccination of their children. According to the cantonal law of 18 February 2022, children must be vaccinated against infectious diseases before starting school.

In the Canton of Geneva, schools must have an emergency plan to manage any cases of infection.

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Key points

Even in the French-speaking part of the canton of Bern, pupils and teachers return to class on Monday. In eleven cantons, including the German-speaking part of the canton of Bern, lessons had already resumed a week ago. In Lower Valais, the school year will begin on 20 August. Young Fribourgers will return to the benches on 27 August, while for Ticino students the bell will ring on 31 August.

Returning to classes is an important time for students and families, who need to plan transportation and extracurricular activities. According to data from the Ministry of Education, in 2022, about 60% of Swiss students used public transport to go to school, while 30% were accompanied by parents or other family members.

In the canton of Ticino, for example, CHF 10 million has been allocated for the renewal of school vehicles, including buses and coaches, to ensure safe and efficient transport for students. Meanwhile, in the canton of Vaud, measures have been taken to reduce air pollution caused by private vehicles, with an increase in pedestrians and cyclists using cycle paths.

The resumption of lessons is also an important moment for teachers, who must plan teaching activities and prepare materials. According to data from the Ministry of Education, in 2022, about 70% of Swiss teachers said they spent more than 10 hours per week for

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Source: tio.ch