Geneva Reforms Mandatory Education System Up to Age 18

Geneva is undertaking a significant overhaul of its mandatory education system, known as FO18, aiming to better equip young people for the future. This reform, the culmination of two years of work, seeks to address persistent issues of school dropout and enhance the employability of its youth.

The core of this "profound" reform, as described by State Councilor Anne Hiltpold, is a fundamental shift in pedagogical approach. Instead of solely prioritizing academic results, the new system will place greater emphasis on the individual student's "project" or educational path. This move is intended to foster a more personalized and engaging learning experience, recognizing that a student's overall development and future career aspirations are as crucial as their grades.

Since its inception in 2018, FO18's primary constitutional mandate has been to keep all adolescents in education until they turn 18. On this front, the system has seen remarkable success, with the dropout rate for minors plummeting from 4.7% to a mere 0.2%. However, this success has not translated into improved diploma attainment. Geneva's certification rate has been in steady decline, currently standing at 84.7% for the 2022-2024 period. This figure places the canton last among Swiss cantons, significantly lagging behind the national average of 90.2% and falling short of the Confederation's goal of 95%.

This disparity highlights a critical challenge for Geneva: ensuring that educational engagement leads to tangible qualifications. While keeping students in school is a vital first step, the ultimate goal must be to provide them with the credentials necessary to enter the workforce or pursue higher education without facing barriers. The reform's focus on the "project" aims to bridge this gap, but the success of this new approach will be closely watched, particularly in comparison to other cantons that have maintained higher certification rates.

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A fundamental change