Financing for equity in pre-primary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
In 2024, the official entrance age to pre-primary education was 4 years old. The same year, the number of years of free pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks and the number of years of compulsory pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks were 2. For 2023, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes was 73.83%.
Governance
Pre-primary education is a part of primary school, starting with two years of kindergarten that children attend from the age of four. The responsibility for educational funding of pre-primary education is distributed among the cantons and communes.
Tuition-free status
Public pre-primary education in Switzerland is tuition-free according to national laws and policies, as guaranteed by Article 62 of the Federal Constitution, which mandates free compulsory education including pre-school (ages 4-6) in the public sector across all cantons.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
At the cantonal level, cantonal governments and parliaments handle educational funding through legislation and financial budget decisions. At the communal level, the communal executive oversees multiannual financial planning for compulsory education, including pre-school education. Depending on cantonal rules, the local school authority may manage budget issues, or schools may retain financial powers within the framework of school development and increased autonomy.
Cantons and communes equally share costs for compulsory education, including special needs schools. Intercantonal funding and free movement agreements (Konkordate) ensure equal access to educational institutions across Switzerland and regulate burden equalization between cantons. These agreements operate under the principle that the canton hosting an educational establishment must offer courses to students from other cantons on the same terms as its own residents. Additionally, the cantons of origin are required to pay a fixed amount to the canton hosting the educational establishment for burden equalization.
Cantonal grants and loans, along with contributions from the Confederation to the cantons, make up part of public education expenditure (1%).
2. Education resources to institutions
Since 2008, the cantons have assumed full operational, legal, and financial responsibility for the education of children and young people with special needs (ages 0-20) and for special education measures. Before this, a substantial portion of special education measures was co-funded by disability insurance (IV).
The regulation and support of private schools, including approval and supervision, fall under the cantons' responsibility. They may assist private schools through public funding or contributions to school fees, which may be contingent on conditions such as serving the canton’s interests, alleviating the burden on state schools, addressing public needs, and meeting quality standards.
3. Education resources to students and families
Parents or legal guardians can claim tax deductions for minor children or for adult children still completing vocational education and in need of support. At the federal level, this amounts to a flat rate of CHF 6,500 (€ 5,963). At the cantonal level, the amount and conditions vary.
There are also other financial support mechanisms at the cantonal level, such as the Allocation de rentrée scolaire (Back-to-School Allowance), in Geneva.
Depending on the canton, school materials (including notebooks, writing utensils, etc.) may be provided by the public sector or be paid for in part by parents or legal guardians. Additionally, the public sector (canton/commune) pays the cost of transport when the journey to school is too long and/or too dangerous, and the children therefore have to take some form of transport. The costs are paid up to the nearest state school of the corresponding school type.
The cantons organise and cover transport costs for children and young people who cannot move independently between home, school, and therapy locations due to their disabilities. Parents or legal guardians may be required to contribute financially for meals and care in day-care centres or for in-patient accommodation. Special contributions (incapacitation allowances) may be provided to children and young people who require special care due to their disabilities.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
State support instruments are available for families with children. Under the Federal Act on Family Allowances, all salaried employees and low-income individuals not in gainful employment, as well as self-employed persons, are entitled to family allowances. All cantons pay a monthly allowance of at least CHF 200 (€ 183) per child up to age 16, and CHF 250 (€ 229) for children aged 16 to 25. Cantons may provide higher allowances.
This profile was reviewed by Alexander Gerlings, Co-Head IDES.
