Switzerland - Special Education

When did Switzerland join the European Agency?

• 2007

• 2000

• 2003

• 2010

Answer explanation

Switzerland joined the European Agency in 2000.

The special needs education (SNE) programme allows students to acquire the knowledge, abilities and competences to qualify in:

• The field of early childhood intervention for preventive and instructional support of children whose development is endangered, disrupted or hindered, as well as appropriate familial intervention.

• The field of specialist training for speech therapy and psychomotor therapy.

• The field of special education teaching, for instruction and educational work with pupils who have special educational needs.

• None of these answers are correct.

Answer explanation

Specialist training

The special needs education (SNE) programme allows students to acquire the knowledge, abilities and competences to qualify in:

1. the field of early childhood intervention for preventive and instructional support of children whose development is endangered, disrupted or hindered, as well as appropriate familial intervention;

2. the field of special education teaching, for instruction and educational work with pupils who have special educational needs.

In Switzerland, there are special schools for:

• pupils with intellectual disabilities

• pupils with physical disabilities

• pupils with severe behavioural disorders

• pupils with hearing, speech or visual impairments

• chronically ill pupils (hospital schools)

Answer explanation

In Switzerland, there are special schools for:

pupils with intellectual disabilities;

pupils with physical disabilities;

pupils with severe behavioural disorders;

pupils with hearing, speech or visual impairments;

chronically ill pupils (hospital schools).

The number of pupils in special schools has increased over the last two to three years.

The first school for pupils with visual impairment opened in Zurich in ____.

Answer explanation

The first school for pupils with visual impairment opened in Zurich in 1810. The first school for pupils with hearing impairment opened in Yverdon in 1811. The first school for pupils with learning difficulties opened in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1882.

The provision of SNE (Special Needs Education) is linked to mainstream schooling. The classes are in the same building as mainstream classes and under the same administration. There are

• practical classes at the higher-secondary level (practical activities, orientation, extra curriculum)

• practical classes at the lower-secondary level (practical activities, orientation, reduced curriculum)

• smaller classes at primary level (generally no more than 14 pupils, adapted curriculum)

• bigger classes at primary level (generally more than 14 pupils, adapted curriculum)

Answer explanation

The provision of SNE is linked to mainstream schooling. The classes are in the same building as mainstream classes and under the same administration. There are

smaller classes at primary level (generally no more than 14 pupils, adapted curriculum)

practical classes at the lower-secondary level (practical activities, orientation, reduced curriculum).

(Note: Until 2004, the number of pupils in special classes increased year on year).

These classes consist of a substantial proportion of pupils with behavioural problems and pupils with learning difficulties. Since 2005, however, the number of pupils in special classes has diminished considerably.