The case

Training companies need reliable and comparable ways enabling them to assess young people’s performance. The issue is not just about school grades, but rather about the lack of consistency and comparability between them.

Source: economiesuisse 24 August 2026 – Prof. Dr. Rudolf Minsch & BFS

The commentary

The debate about abolishing school grades has been framed too narrowly. The key issue is ensuring that students’ performance is assessed fairly, transparently, and consistently. The Canton of Zug is taking an important step in this direction by requiring grades for exams and introducing comparative tests twice a year. These measures will make students’ performance easier to assess and compare across schools.

Teacher associations and educational researchers may argue that such tests risk encouraging “teaching to the test”, with teachers focusing on test-relevant content rather than fostering students’ individual strengths and providing a well-rounded education.

Transparency is particularly important in vocational education and training (VET), where training companies need reliable information about the knowledge and skills young people bring with them. Consistent and comparable assessments can strengthen trust and reduce the need for companies to conduct additional tests themselves. Ultimately, both young people and training companies benefit from a fairer, more transparent, and more reliable assessment system.

According to the latest figures from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, 286,484 young people and young adults were enrolled in vocational education and training (VET) in 2025. During the same year, 76,793 people entered a VET programme, while 65,329 successfully completed their vocational training. At upper-secondary level, a total of 111,843 qualifications were awarded in 2025. Of these, 65,329 were vocational qualifications, while 46,514 were obtained through general education programmes. The latter included 20,335 Swiss Matura certificates, 13,195 vocational baccalaureate certificates as well as 3,860 specialised baccalaureate certificates. At the tertiary level of professional education, 10,595 higher professional education diplomas, 2,836 Federal Diplomas of Higher Professional Education and 15,368 Federal Certificates of Higher Professional Education were awarded in 2025.