Weak German skills and vocational baccalaureate: Abolishing entrance exams sparks criticism

The decision by Swiss cantons to abolish entrance exams for the vocational baccalaureate (Berufsmatura) is drawing criticism from educators concerned about declining academic standards. Teachers report that students with significantly weaker German and English skills, as well as math abilities, are now entering these programs.

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Newcomers are now also people with very weak German and English skills entering the vocational baccalaureate.

Anja Nützi, a vocational school teacher and board member of the Swiss Vocational Education and Training Association (BCH-FPS), observed a change in her classrooms since St. Gallen introduced exam-free access two years ago. "Newcomers are now also people with very weak German and English skills entering the vocational baccalaureate," she noted, adding that mathematics is also becoming a growing problem. Nützi attributes this to a lack of adequate preparation, as no entrance examination is required.

This concern is shared by others. In the canton of Zurich, students with a final apprenticeship grade of at least 5.0 can enter the vocational baccalaureate school without an entrance exam. St. Gallen's threshold is 4.75. A survey indicates that nearly all cantons have abandoned entrance exams, provided a certain grade point average is met.

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Many lack good preparation because no exam is necessary anymore.

The vocational baccalaureate is gaining importance as it provides access to universities of applied sciences and, with an additional exam, to universities. However, the exam-free admission to the vocational baccalaureate (BM 2) path is facing resistance due to fears of lowered standards. A discussion paper from the Zurich Cantonal Vocational School Teachers' Conference criticizes the access as "neither fair nor uniform," arguing that the final apprenticeship grade poorly reflects suitability for academic requirements. The national association also plans to further address the issue, with Nützi launching a survey on the reform's impact, particularly concerning the high number of dropouts.

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The access to the BM is neither fair nor uniform.