Martin Meyer debated the strengths and weaknesses of the Swiss education system with Sergio Ermotti, Margit Stamm, Oliver Meier and Silvia Steiner.
Margrit Stamm, Sergio Ermotti, Silvia Steiner and Oliver Meier discussed with moderator Martin Meyer (left).
Education, education and more education: In a globalized meritocracy, it is one of the most important resources of all. Anyone who wants to save on education makes themselves unpopular as a politician. Even business representatives never tire of emphasizing how important well-trained specialists are.
Switzerland is often proud of its dual education system. But no system is perfect. Many children and young people suffer from the pressure to perform and have psychological problems. In addition, there is a shortage of teachers in many places.
On the subject of “meritocracy – what kind of school do people need?” discussed a competent group in the NZZ foyer on Thursday evening. Guests were Silvia Steiner, Director of Education from Zurich, Sergio Ermotti, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss Re, Oliver Meier, Project Manager for Building Construction, and Margrit Stamm, Professor of Education.
The interest in the topic was extremely high, as evidenced by the fact that the foyer was practically filled to capacity. No surprise, since it was about nothing less than “Switzerland’s most important raw material”, as the panel leader Martin Meyer put it.
Right at the beginning of the event, Margrit Stamm put her finger in the wound and in her short presentation she spoke about the negative sides of the Swiss education system. Education policy must rethink the traditional tunnel vision of grades and as much academia as possible, open up to hidden skills and thus pay more attention to equal opportunities. “Grades mimic intelligence,” said the emeritus professor of educational science. They are not a clear indication of what children can do. She also advocated that children sometimes fail and are “only” allowed to be average. The courage to fail is often preached in our society, but not lived.
Of course there is room for improvement, said Sergio Ermotti. On the whole, however, he is very satisfied with the Swiss education system, said the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the reinsurer Swiss Re. Ermotti especially praised the dual focus. The former CEO of the major bank UBS started his career with an apprenticeship and is thus a prime example of the permeability of the Swiss education system. According to Ermotti, it has now become easier for children from less well-off families to complete a university education. “In addition, countries with a dual education system often have a low unemployment rate and are characterized by social and political stability,” he said on Thursday evening.
Zurich’s director of education, Silvia Steiner, also has a positive image of the Swiss education system. But the center politician also recognizes that not all children have the same opportunities. “We inherit our educational biographies,” said Steiner. It is now the case that children from academic families are more likely to attend university than children from non-academic families. The task of the school is to somehow do justice to all children. This is a major challenge, not least for the teachers. It is sometimes difficult for them to do justice to the individual children and their needs. Steiner is not afraid that more and more parents will send their children to private schools: “Our private school quotas are constant.”
As far as training is concerned, not only the schools but also the companies have an obligation, says Oliver Meier. The structural engineering project manager and Swiss master builder works for Marti AG. On the podium, Meier encouraged employers to become active themselves: “You have to train the young people yourself, make an effort and offer prospects.” Many companies have already realized this. He, too, can see a lot of positive things about the dual education system. In the apprenticeship you are not only treated with kid gloves and you learn to deal with criticism. He completed an apprenticeship as a mason himself and has not regretted it to this day.
The four participants in the discussion on Thursday evening did not agree on where the biggest construction sites in the Swiss education system are. What was undisputed was that it existed.