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Comment by Dreami | Hacker News Reader

As a Swiss citizen, I really, really like our model. The only problem I see, is that foreign people from all kind of countries don't know this system and think that their kids have to go to a "Gymnasium" to reach a university-level education later. That's probably something we should emphasize more!

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The Swiss/German/Central European model is extremely confusing for expats, like myself, who grew up outside of the country.

Here's a (simplified) diagram of how it works, for anyone who's interested: https://www.edudoc.ch/static/web/bildungssystem/grafik_bildu...

I'm a foreig parent in Switzerland and have been put through several hours of being told that Gymnasium is not the only way.

I think foreign parents in particular are concerned that their kids are being trapped by a complicated system out of their future chance at a higher education.

That‘s the poinz though, there is no trap. You have bridges from vocational education to academic at multiple points - 3rd year gymnasium, vocational maturity, university entrance exam for both bachelor and master. Or you go through one of the very high quality vocational bachelor (and now also master) programs.

One point I see, if your kid would go for an apprenticeship with the attention of going to a uni of applied sciences later, but then you decide to move to another country. But that's kind of something I can imagine, since your kid could also simply stay there and live as an adult.

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