Differences in Gymnasium entrance rates
Parents in cantons such as Zug or Zurich who would like to see their offspring in Gymnasium (academic/highest ability track in secondary school) will be envious of their counterparts in Basel. Whereas in both cantons the percentage of students accessing Gymnasium is around or under 20%, in Basel-Stadt the figure in 2018 stands at 45%!
The Basel education department is less impressed. In words of the education department, the high number of students in Gymnasium ’reveals a stark imbalance, which must be corrected’. In fact, in the last 5 years, the number of Gymnasium entrants was a ‘mere’ 35-37 %. Ironically, this is still a much higher number than other cantons in German speaking Switzerland! Under recent school reforms, the number suddenly jumped up to 45%. Conservative politicians, often suspicious of higher education and proponents of the good old Lehre (appendiceship), are not happy.
The department aims to have an even split between 30% in academic education, 30% in specialist high schools, including IT and business high schools (Fachmittelschulen and Fachmaturitätsschulen) and 30% in vocational training. In order to achieve this ‘balance’ the education department is planning on tightening access requirements for Gymnasium entrance.
Where do most children gain a Gymnasium university entrance qualification?
However, even if Basel manages to reduce its quote, location still matters for education outcomes, as the below graph shows. This graphs gives an overview of the Maturitätsquote, or university entrance qualification (Matura/maturitè) quota per canton. From 32.1 percent in Geneva to 12.6 % in Sant Gallen, the percentage of students accessing the academic track aka gymnasium significantly varies across Switzerland.
More information on: https://swisseducationconsulting.ch/settled-families/
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Hello, Hope you are well. I wanted to understand if there is a way to figure out which primary schools in Basel Stadt have a higher percentage of children moving to Gymnasium.
If there is a link with the infoirmation that you can provide to me, i would really apporeciate it.
thank you
Dear Pinaz,
Basel Stadt has an overall higher entrance rate than Zürich. If you need more specific guidance, feel free to contact me to set up a consultation.
Best wishes Stefanie