Federalism, subsidiarity and educational policy in Switzerland

Switzerland's system of education is among the most decentralized education systems in the world. This is due not only to the well-known cultural and linguistic diversity of Switzerland but, equally important, results from the fact that policymaking in modern Switzerland is based on three fundamental principles: direct democracy, federalism, and subsidiarity. In general, as practised by the Swiss, these political concepts complement each other and have led to the image of Switzerland as a haven of democracy, stability and prosperity. But sometimes the three conflict, and it is particularly in the area of education policy where different interpretations and applications of subsidiarity have led to extensive variations in educational structures, disagreements over the 'right' educational policies and protracted arguments over their resolution. This article argues that while a minimalist interpretation of subsidiarity has prevailed, for instance, in neighbouring Germany and the European Union, the Swiss have practised a maximalist version. For the education policy sector that means the federal government and national policy coordinating bodies remain weak, while the cantons retain their educational authority and are thus free to either centralize their educational administrations or devolve their policy making authority to local authorities. This, in turn, has important consequences for the willingness of the Swiss cantons to coordinate or integrate their educational policies and for the future of the Swiss education system.