Equity in Education Thematic Review Country Analytical Report - Switzerland
Switzerland invests more than the mean of other countries in education. The most recent international figures available show that, in 2001, taking all levels of education together, it spent USD 8800 for each child at school or adult student. The OECD mean is USD 6200. Between 1995 and 2001, the biggest increases in expenditure went on students at tertiary level. Much of this extra money was needed for the creation of so-called “universities of applied sciences” (UASs), which are referred to in some English texts as “HESs” (hautes écoles spécialisées) or “FHSs” (Fachhochschulen) (see section 2.1). One of the explanations for Switzerland’s high educational spending is certainly the country’s elevated wage levels: at all the non-tertiary levels the outlay on human resources is 85% of running costs, and at tertiary level it is 77% (OECD means: 81% and 67% respectively). The aboveaverage expenditure is, however, also occasioned by the good quality of the educational infrastructure, the decentralised organisation of the education system and the existence of four language regions
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