Education and School System
School System
The Swiss school system is organized according to the federal political structure, each canton is responsible for organizing its education and teaching institutions. In general, children attend public schools.
In Ticino compulsory schooling begins at the age of 6 and comprises 9 schooling years. Nevertheless, most children attend 3 years of pre-school education from the age of 3. The language of instruction is Italian.
| Age | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Asilo nido (pre-school) | Parents with children of pre-school age may enrol them with crèches and in with day care centres outside the family, against payment. |
| 3/4 | Scuola dell'infanzia (nursery school) | Nursery school is compulsory from the age of 4. It is not fee-paying. |
| 6 | Scuola elementare (primary school) | Compulsory education begins at the age of 6 and covers 9 years of schooling, divided into 5 years of primary (elementari) level and 4 years of lower secondary level (scuole medie). |
| 11 | Scuola media (lower secondary school) | |
| 15 | Scuole post-obbligatorie (post-compulsory education)
|
On completion of their compulsory education, pupils may carry on studying by choosing either an upper-secondary school or in secondary vocational schools (technical college, etc.). |
State schools
The School Division of the Department of Education of Canton Ticino makes available any necessary information on state schools and details on how to enrol.
Divisione della scuola
Viale Portone 12
6500 Bellinzona
tel. +41 91 814 18 11
fax +41 91 814 18 19
decs-ds@ti.ch
Private / Independent schools
In addition to public schools, in Ticino there are several privately run schools. Some of them may use English as their language of instruction. A list of the main ones in the district of Lugano may be found online.