Family & Children

The education system reflects the way Switzerland is organised politically. In accordance with Switzerland's federal structure, the tasks of the education system are shared between 3 political levels (Confederation, cantons and municipalities) which work together in their respective areas of responsibility to ensure high quality in the education system.

Until now, compulsory education has been 9 years in length, subdivided into the primary level and the lower secondary level. In most cases, the primary level lasts 6 years, and the lower secondary level 3 years. In only a few cantons, the primary level lasts 4 or 5 years and entrance to the lower secondary level thus occurs either in school year 5 (duration: 5 years) or school year 6 (duration: 4 years). In more than half of the cantons, it is compulsory to attend pre-school. In almost all cantons, the municipalities are obliged to provide pre-school classes. In fact, the vast majority of children attend the public pre-schools, which are free of charge.

In more than half of the cantons, it is either already compulsory to attend pre-school, or a compulsory pre-school attendance scheme is planned. In the course of the harmonisation of compulsory education (HarmoS), 2 years of compulsory pre-school attendance are envisaged (and thus the extension of compulsory education to 11 years).

More information on the Swiss Education System is available at www.educa.ch

International Schools: are recommended for families who will only remain a short time in Switzerland. www.sgischools.com

Childcare:

All communities in the canton of Zug offer places for day care to help families with pre-school age children.  The canton ensures that a sufficient number of places be available, and  these offer a high-standard of benefits to the children. The places are charged for and the schemes are under constant supervision from the canton.

To have your children looked after for the whole day, you have the choice between Kinderhort (crèche) and Tagesfamilien (families who look after your children together with their own). At the crèche (also called Tagesheim) children are looked after for two up to four to five days per week, with fixed vacation scheme. In a Tagesfamilie, the child is taken care of together with the other children in the family of the Tagesmutter (“day-mother”). The advantage of the latter is that day care is fixed according to the needs of all persons involved. A child can be looked after for a couple of hours, half-days or whole days. 

For children aged between three and five, there are a number of playgroups available which can look after the child for a few hours. These are designed to help the child’s development and to prepare it for Kindergarten. Playgroups exist for English, Italian and Chinese speaking children, too.

Another possibility is to register with a Mittagstisch (lunch table), which provides meals for children at school, between 11.00 and 14.00 hours. Children are supervised during the meals.

A full list of registered child care providers is available through the city website

It is also possible to employ a baby-sitter for a couple of hours. Hourly Fees are 7.- to 10.- Fr during the day, and 30.- to 50.- Fr. per evening (flat-rate). A list of registered baby-sitters is available at “Work & Life” Zug.

For very small children (3 to Kindergarten) and their parents, there is the possibility to attend play and gymnastics lessons which are supervised by an instructor. This is an excellent way for the children and their parents to make new friends. Almost all communities offer such activities for a nominal fee.

A list of such activities is available at: www.svkt-kantonzug.ch/MuKi-Turnen.htm

Throughout Zug there are a large number of Sports facilities www.zug.ch/sport for children and young adults, as well as organisations like the Boy Scouts and Girls Guides (age 7-17)www.pfadikantonzug.ch.

During the summer vacation, there are camps and events provided to occupy children intellectually and physically. These include Rugby Coaching Academy and Intersoccer which are run in August each year.

The Zuger Ferienpass scheme is offered during the first three weeks of summer vacation, to all children of the Zug communities. They can choose from a wide range events and summer activities. www.zuger-ferienpass.ch

The Zug tourist office (“Zug-Tourismus”) has a comprehensive guide of all events and activities on offer www.zug-tourismus.ch

As does the Zug Culture Calendar www.zug.ch/kulturzug

The IMCK (International Moms and Kids Club) is a club for English speaking families with young children. Most activities are designed for Mums and kids to meet other Mums and kids in a social and learning environment. The IMKC also organizes activities for the whole family or for parents on their own. 
International Moms and Kids Club - Tel. +41 (0)41 780 92 63 www.imkc.ch

Zug Library - Has a huge range of books, CD's, DVD's and other media which can be borrowed (by Zug residents) free of charge for up to 4 weeks. Their interactive website and catalogue provides English information on what is available and how to join. www.bibliothekzug.ch  - Kantonsbibliothek, St. Oswaldsgasse 21, 6301 Zug
Tel. +41 (0)41 728 23 13.

Toy Library- In Baar, Zug, Hünenberg, Steinhausen and Unterägeri, there are also toys and games on loan, at the local Ludothek. It charges one to ten Franks for the loan of toys, tools for handicraft, and sports equipment.   http://www.ludo.ch/en/index.htm