298,368 pupils (49.7% girls) attended the lower secondary level in the school year of 2007 / 2008. 21.2% of pupils had a foreign background. There are around 1950 schools. 4.8% of the pupils attended private, unsubsidised schools. 36,565 teachers (51.4% women) taught the 14,980 classes in 23,100 full-time positions. The average class size was 18.8. The cantons specify the number of hours per week and per subject. From school years 7 to 9, the pupils were given 31 to 35 lessons per week (lesson duration usually 45 minutes).

Data FSO 2008; EDK 2006/2007