Transition from lower to upper secondary level

This indicator measures the transition from compulsory education to a post-compulsory upper secondary level course of education leading to a qualification. From a systemic point of view, the ideal transition takes place directly in the form of upper secondary level education and training leading to a qualification.

From an integration perspective, a decrease in the share of persons who do not start upper secondary level education straight away indicates an improved situation.

Main results

A VET programme is the preferred pathway for the majority of population groups, although those born in Switzerland are more likely to pursue this type of training than those born abroad, whatever their nationality. Most people on general education programmes are Swiss nationals born in Switzerland or abroad. Regardless of their place of birth, young foreign nationals are proportionately around twice as likely as Swiss nationals to embark on transitional training not leading to a qualification (10th school year, preparatory school, a pre-apprenticeship or motivation semester). Swiss nationals born in Switzerland are less likely to find themselves outside the education system than other population groups.

Trends over time

Since 2012, the share of students pursuing a general education programme has increased in all population groups. The rate of students pursuing a VET programme has increased among foreign nationals born abroad and fallen among those born in Switzerland and Swiss nationals. The percentage of people joining a transitional programme has decreased among Swiss nationals – born in Switzerland and abroad – and among foreign nationals born abroad, although it has increased among foreign nationals born in Switzerland. The share of persons not starting upper secondary education straight away has decreased in all population groups since 2012.

Definitions
Methodologies

A school leaver is any student aged 13 to 20 who was registered for compulsory schooling in the previous (school) year for the last time. Thus, school leavers from (school) year X are students who were recorded in year X-1 in lower secondary level or in special education and who have not been recorded since in this level. The following school year (X), they may have:

started a transitional course of education (10th school year, preparatory school or a pre-apprenticeship, motivation semester) or other training not leading to a qualification (DI basic training or INSOS practical training); or
started an upper secondary level course leading to a qualification in the form of basic vocational education and training in preparation for a Federal VET Certificate or Federal VET Diploma, or in a school of general education or an academic baccalaureate school; or
they may be absent from the education system, although, according to the Population and Household Statistics (STATPOP), they are still in Switzerland.

The reference population does not include school leavers who:

were not initially part of the permanent resident population in Switzerland; or
were following a foreign programme at compulsory school; or
left Switzerland without starting an education and training course leaving to a qualification at upper secondary level; or
left compulsory school before the 11th HarmoS year and who were under 15 years at the time of the last compulsory school registration.

The rate of immediate transition to upper secondary level indicates the percentage of school leavers who start post-compulsory education straight away.

School leavers are grouped into the following categories:

No immediate entry to upper secondary level
Transitional courses between lower and upper secondary
VET programmes
General education programmes