Switzerland launches school science initiative
A new initiative to encourage understanding of the natural sciences by school children has been launched in Switzerland. NaTech Education, launched on 28 August, will provide further education for teaching staff, and support the development of teaching material and aids. A further aim is to improve the image and value of technology-based subjects at school. 'Switzerland's position as a place of research is already threatened by a widespread hostility to technology and research,' said Dieter Imboden, President of the Swiss National Science Foundation's research council. Along with the rest of Europe, Switzerland also faces the threat of new competitors, principally in Asia. National Councillor Kathy Riklin, President of the Commission for Science, Education and Culture, expressed her concern at the lack of interest in technical subjects among a rising number of young people, and the falling number of young people pursuing technology or the natural sciences, or becoming engineers. The initiative will first run in three of Switzerland's 26 cantons, before being extended. Under the country's federalist system, the cantons enjoy a large degree of autonomy in education. Together with each community, they are responsible for 90 per cent of education financing. In May 2006 the Swiss people and the cantons voted in favour of a constitutional amendment on education. While the cantons retain their autonomy in education matters, they are obliged to harmonise certain aspects.
Countries
Switzerland