SWISS EDUCATION

Since moving here last year, we have had a few ups and downs regarding Pierre's education. When we left France Pierre had just turned 14 and had finished the 3ieme, and would have moved into the lycee had we stayed. As soon as we arrived in mid-September we went to see the Headmaster of the local state school and Pierre was enrolled immediately.

What a school! After his 19th century crumbling and tatty Jesuit school in Toulouse, this was a joy to behold. It was sparkling - so much so, we thought it had been recently opened - in fact it was 15 years old! Everything was totally spotless and I have never seen equipment like it. In computer studies, each child had his own Mac (latest model of course!), the desks and chairs were designed for minimum slouching, the food in the canteen was first-class (and lots of it) and in the domestic science room, there were twenty or so brand new 'pianos' with their own preparation areas, sinks etc. which would have put most restaurant kitchens to shame.

Yes, they did domestic science, and they all loved it - and the food they brought home was highly edible too! There were also woodwork classes, sewing (Pierre made a pair of the most zany slippers I have ever seen!), iron work (I can't think of the right word right now), and all of this along with the usual lessons.

The Swiss have long ago seen the light, and have a highly efficient apprenticeship system - once a child is in his 15th year they can leave school, do an apprenticeship or go on to higher education if their end of year exams are conclusive. About half of Pierre's class have gone into a three year apprentiship and the other half into higher education. Before doing an apprenticeship the children do work experience during their last year at school, so that they can really judge what their chosen profession entails. And when they do start work they are paid a good salary. Which is hard for those who continue in school when they see their chums in an apprenticeship who have money to spend that they can only dream about!

In France putting a child into an apprenticeship is basically considered as a last resort - not bright enough to go to the lycee so put 'em into an apprenticeship to keep 'em off the streets...of course there are exceptions but basically it's a dead-end thing. They do all the crappy jobs no-one else wants and are paid peanuts.

The equivalent of 'A' Levels here is the Maturite (accent on 'e') Gymnasiale or the Matu as it is called. Pierre couldn't go into that stream as he only had 12/20 in German (but not bad going after only one year of studying the language), so he went into the Matu Pro which is more or less the same, only it is more difficult to get into University - the Matu Pro invariably go to what used to be called a Tech in England.

By half-term I had realised that this school was not for him - his homework was rushed off in 10 minutes, there was absolutely no enthusiasm about his school (they all 'hate' it but do occasionally say they like a particular teacher or they did something interesting) and when I went to the PTA, I came out knowing exactly why he wasn't settling - it was AWFUL!

So after a bit of trawling on the Internet, I found him a private school where the children can either study for the Matu or the French Bac - we went to see the Headmaster who invited Pierre to go to the school for a week free, and that he and Pierre would meet at the end of the week to see if a) he was up to standard and b) if he enjoyed the school and c) see if the teachers liked him. I informed the 'old' school that he was going for a weeks' trial, explaining that they could offer the Bac, and the 'charming' Headmaster said that if he left the school, he couldn't come back! I had to really bite my tongue to avoid telling him where he could get off to! So, a slightly stressful week, and joy on the Friday when he was accepted, and the following Monday he became a proper student.

The Matu is in fact the highest of all the European exams - but only recognised in Switzerland! Pierre will be doing the Bac 'L' and armed with that he can basically go to any university in Europe through the brilliant Erasmus system. The Matu students have to sit exams to get into other European universities - but the system is changing and Switzerland has realised that their children need to study abroad, even though they have some brilliant universities.

Unfortunately the private schools in Switzerland don't run on the 'means' test as in France, and they are easily the price of private schools in England - fortunately the new school doesn't have boarders so the fees are far more affordable. But worth it I hope - already he has found his motivation and is happy to be back in the French system - even though it does mean he still has a lot of work to do on his German and they start Italian this year too! So all those years of Spanish have served to no useful purpose, school wise! And if he passes his Bac, it is the equivalent of 6 A* in England...and it seems that in England now schools are fighting to get their names down to offer the IB to their students.

So hopefully that problem is sorted out - I'm sure I'm still lots of things wrong, but am working on it!