Eighteen Swiss schools around the world welcome expatriates and foreign pupils. A new law could allow them to expand, but at a gathering in Zug the school authorities are not hiding their impatience – and, sometimes, their fears. “We’re waiting for a loud ‘yes to Swiss schools’ from the Swiss government!” said Barbara Sulzer Smith, head of the Swiss school in Barcelona, who joined 40 other heads in Zug recently at the annual meeting of Swiss schools abroad. Following the example of 13 other cantons – all German-speaking except bilingual Valais – Zug is a “patron” of Swiss schools. Swiss federalism means the schools, while private organisations abroad, have to opt for a specific cantonal education system. Pupils in Barcelona therefore follow the Bernese syllabus, while canton Zug is the model for the school in Singapore. But that isn’t what’s on the minds of the delegates this year. Their meeting is taking place during the consultation for the revision of the law on ...
