This is my first post asking a question. I have read through many of the threads on schools; private vs public, International etc.. I have not been able to learn anything about children transitioning to Swiss universities.
I am considering a job opportunity in Geneva (currently live in the U.S.), my potential employer offers paid tuition for dependents, which is really generous as this could mean 25k-30K per year, per child. My kids are aged 6 and 3, and based on the information on this site and feedback to others' questions, the public school system is a great experience for the kids, and they could integrate much easier...I had become very comfortable with the idea of putting the kids in pucblic school..until this face of paid tuition came into play.
We would commit for a two year contract to "see how it goes" but potentially this could be a permenant move. My concern is if the kids are in an International School what sort of diploma would they receive at the end (I know it's a decade away), and how would that International qualification affect my childs ability to attend a Swiss University. Would they have better chances if they had attended Swiss public school?
Any advise or direction would be gratefully received. I apologize in advance if this topic is addressed elsewhere, I am a novice and couldn't find this topic.
Swiss private schools end with the Matur/maturiteĢ exams just like the public Gymnasium. International private schools probably end with other diplomas that either are recognised by the university, or not, or require an additional entry examn. Something to consider once somebody is in the sixth school year.
On a sidenote, the majority of Swiss scholars attend only the 9 obligatory school years (and maybe a tenth), it's a minority that learns the ca. 12 years for Matur. That's about 6 years of elementary school and 6 of Gymnasium, but details depend on the canton.
Thank you Nathu. I am overly cautious, but we are making decisions that affects our children's future opportunities and I want to make sure we are duely dilligent.
I had not realized the 9 years of schooling option. I guess a private school is a good option to consider also, not specifically an international school.
Agreed! I would want the kids (in fact all of us) to master French and then German within a couple of years. My preference would be for a bi-lingual program (if such a thing exists) so that even in a private or International setting the kids 2nd and 3rd language skills would improve.
Given the ages of your childern I really don't think what happens in the next two years is going to have a big impact where they eventually end up going to College, so I would not worry about that one right now.
There are a few things worth thinking about though: They are at ideal ages to pick up foreign languages, give them six months in the local kindergarten or school and they will be chattering away in French in no time at all As regards your employer's contribution for schooling, what will happen after the two years if you become a local employee? Most companies I know stop the payments once you switch over Even if the company continues to pay school fees, it may end up acting as a ball and chain preventing you from switching to another local employer, assuing you are here for the long term - I've seen this happen with a good friend of mine: he hates the job but can't leave because of the kids education fees. In comparison to the the US, Swiss Colleges are basically free, assuming you get accepted. Hope this gives you some other ideas to thing about.
Paid tution is a very nice perk and if you are unsure if you are going to stay here, you will not want your children to fall behind academically when and if you return home where they will be schooled in English. If you are posted elsewhere in the future, you will almost always be able to find an international school. If you want to read up more about international education and the International Baccalaureate (IB)here is a link. http://www.ibo.org/
You may also find a French school or a German school elsewhere, something also to consider, but these schools may not offer the IB diploma.
There are a limited number of Swiss universities offering programmes in English. Entrance requirements vary, many are looking to attract students who have international experience and the IB Diploma is accepted, sometimes with a minimum score, and there could be other entrance requirements as well. Swiss universities may accept the IB diploma (for example the ETH will - with a very high score) but you need proficiency in German as well.
There are many good reasons to send children to local schools. Streamimg still exists here and without the grades, they will never make it to the highest levels of high school that will allow them to enter university, but for many children who are not academically inclined, this is a good thing as it allows them to follow a course of study that allows them to learn a trade, for example.
Given the ages of your children, I don't think you can make the wrong decision in the short term, say for a couple of years. However, international assignments always have an element of uncertainty and if you don't accept paid tuition from the start, will you be able to request this later if you decide to? Something to consider.
Yes, Jim you have given me something to think about. I had not anticipated hating my job after several years and having to stick with it for the sake of the kid's school fees......there are enough ball and chain scenarios in life without adding to it!