In 2021, some 42 417 diplomas were awarded for general education courses at the upper secondary level, meaning an increase of almost 75% compared to the year 2000. This is for the most part due to the federal vocational Baccalaureate, which has more than doubled since 2000. Between 2000 and 2021, the overall proportion of women in general education courses showed an increase (from 53% to 57%). For the Baccalaureate, it rose from 54% to 59% and for the federal vocational Baccalaureate from 36% to 47%.
Training type | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 24 131 | 36 364 | 39 732 | 42 666 | 42 417 |
Male | 11 462 | 15 723 | 17 272 | 18 364 | 18 041 |
Female | 12 669 | 20 641 | 22 460 | 24 302 | 24 376 |
Baccalaureates | 15 027 | 18 759 | 18 566 | 19 090 | 18 510 |
Male | 6 903 | 7 940 | 7 932 | 8 017 | 7 597 |
Female | 8 124 | 10 819 | 10 634 | 11 073 | 10 913 |
Federal vocational baccalaureates | 6 475 | 12 249 | 14 023 | 14 411 | 14 500 |
Male | 4 151 | 6 612 | 7 507 | 7 700 | 7 731 |
Female | 2 324 | 5 637 | 6 516 | 6 711 | 6 769 |
Specialised baccalaureates | . | 1 357 | 2 525 | 3 165 | 3 421 |
Male | . | 212 | 487 | 744 | 813 |
Female | . | 1 145 | 2 038 | 2 421 | 2 608 |
Transition programme Vocational baccalaureate - University1 | . | 487 | 773 | 1 032 | 1 081 |
Male | . | 286 | 455 | 554 | 586 |
Female | . | 201 | 318 | 478 | 495 |
Transition programme Specialised baccalaureate - University1 | . | . | . | 246 | 320 |
Male | . | . | . | 88 | 104 |
Female | . | . | . | 158 | 216 |
Specialised school certificates | 1 865 | 3 357 | 3 845 | 4 722 | 4 585 |
Male | 326 | 636 | 891 | 1 261 | 1 210 |
Female | 1 539 | 2 721 | 2 954 | 3 461 | 3 375 |
Other programmes of general education | 764 | 155 | . | . | . |
Male | 82 | 37 | . | . | . |
Female | 682 | 118 | . | . | . |
Data as of: June 2022
General education covers the three types of baccalaureate as well as courses in one of the upper secondary specialised schools. The Baccalaureate is awarded, depending on the canton, after three or four years, the federal vocational Baccalaureate is awarded either during or after initial vocational education and the specialised Baccalaureate is awarded one year after the specialised diploma.
Between 2000 and 2021, the number of baccalaureates has increased dramatically (+70%). All three types of baccalaureate have contributed to this increase: the Baccalaureate, with an increase in diplomas of 25%; the specialised Baccalaureate, which was first introduced in 2006; and especially the federal vocational Baccalaureate, which recorded a large rise in numbers between 2000 and 2005. A striking increase has been seen in the share of women taking baccalaureates: in 2000 the percentage of female candidates was just under 50%; in 2021 it was 55%.
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