Lower secondary level: what is taught?
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The lower secondary level should promote the development and character-building of adolescents, prepare them for adult life and encourage them with regard to life-long learning. The lower secondary level should promote self-responsibility and personal initiative, as well as provide instruction on the identification and solving of problems, the handling of conflicts and on working individually or collaboratively.
Subjects
The following subjects are taught at the lower secondary level:
The following subjects are taught at the lower secondary level:
 | The first national language (German, French, Italian or Romanic, depending on the region) |
| 2 foreign languages (generally another national language and English) |
| Mathematics |
| Natural sciences |
| Geography |
| History and civic education |
| Home economics, crafts |
| Visual arts |
| Music |
| Sport |
| Career guidance and vocational preparation. |
Subjects
Subjects such as the natural sciences, geography, history or civic education can also be taught within a single subject (e.g. "people and the environment"). Then there are fields that can be taught either as specific subjects or in an interdisciplinary fashion. These fields include the use of new information technology and communication technology, environmental education, health, sex education, intercultural education and media education. Most cantons provide for religious or ethical instruction.
Curricula and allocations
The cantons define the curricula and allocation of hours per subject and prescribe the teaching material. In the course of the harmonisation of compulsory education (HarmoS), curricula specific to each linguistic region are being developed for compulsory education: the Plan d'études romand for the French-speaking cantons and the Lehrplan 21 for the German-speaking and multilingual cantons. Teaching material is also to be coordinated on the level of the linguistic regions.
Subjects such as the natural sciences, geography, history or civic education can also be taught within a single subject (e.g. "people and the environment"). Then there are fields that can be taught either as specific subjects or in an interdisciplinary fashion. These fields include the use of new information technology and communication technology, environmental education, health, sex education, intercultural education and media education. Most cantons provide for religious or ethical instruction.
Curricula and allocations
The cantons define the curricula and allocation of hours per subject and prescribe the teaching material. In the course of the harmonisation of compulsory education (HarmoS), curricula specific to each linguistic region are being developed for compulsory education: the Plan d'études romand for the French-speaking cantons and the Lehrplan 21 for the German-speaking and multilingual cantons. Teaching material is also to be coordinated on the level of the linguistic regions.
