Politics and Economics In Switzerland
What will be produced with your country's resources?
Switzerland produces many products within the country. Its abundant with natural resources such as clay, marble, salt and gravel. However, its main resource is the natural goods of metal.
How will these goods be produced?
This good is produced in a factory in which workers use the metal to make jewelry out of. For example, this jewelry could be a Montblanc watch that is a Swiss luxury made piece.
Who will use these goods?
This good will be used to sell to retail locations and for purchasing purposes.
Will these goods be exported?
These good will be exported to other countries and distributed to retail locations for them to be sold in various location in the world.
Switzerland produces many products within the country. Its abundant with natural resources such as clay, marble, salt and gravel. However, its main resource is the natural goods of metal.
How will these goods be produced?
This good is produced in a factory in which workers use the metal to make jewelry out of. For example, this jewelry could be a Montblanc watch that is a Swiss luxury made piece.
Who will use these goods?
This good will be used to sell to retail locations and for purchasing purposes.
Will these goods be exported?
These good will be exported to other countries and distributed to retail locations for them to be sold in various location in the world.
Status of Education
Overview of Swiss Education:
Education in Switzerland is not only unconventional compared to many other nations but also compulsory. With a wide variety of schools ranging from local Swiss schools to private schools to bilingual schools to international schools, the education standards are extremely high and, much like Switzerland itself, anything but boring. The education system of Switzerland is largely decentralized. There are 26 cantons within Switzerland that are overseen by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) (Education in Switzerland, 2015). However, each canton creates and implements its own standards, which can be detrimental for families moving from one region of the nation to another. Switzerland is ranked number nine out of sixty-five nations and economies in a recent OECD/PISA survey of educational standards among 15-year-olds (Swiss Education System, 2015). Most of the local and international schools are free but still exist at the cost of parents’ paying extremely high taxes. Education in Switzerland is compulsory for 9-11 years, with some children beginning compulsory education when they are four years old and others at six years, until about age 15.
"Put every child in School" - Initiative One:
As Swiss education is compulsory, meaning that it is required by law; every child is put into school. Although education in Switzerland is not required past the age of 15, every child does have an opportunity to go to school. Access to education within Switzerland is noticeably easy to obtain. There are a large variety of schools ranging from; public, private, international and bilingual. All of which that carry an environment that is rich in a variety of cultures, including variations in linguistic backgrounds. Home schooling within Switzerland is uncommon, however those who chose that option have ample support from outside learning resources. Furthermore, most notably, children and young adolescents with special education in Switzerland have a right to education and support from specialists from birth up until their 20th birthday (Swiss Literacy Index, 2013). The Swiss education system in terms of the UN Global Education Initiative does a good job in making sure that every child is put into school, which is stated in its first initiative.
"Improve the Quality of Learning"- Initiative Two:
In terms of the second initiative stated by the UN, Switzerland meets this goal of improving the quality of learning. Switzerland prides its education system on the diverse and various schools that it provides students in the country. Each school structure has its own different attributes however, they all are held to an overall high standard. In public, private and international schools, language development is mainly focused on. Due to the variety of languages spoken throughout the country Switzerland provides students courses on different languages, promoting bilingualism in school. Additionally, the swiss education systems emphasize on students being literate by the age of 15. There is a 99% literacy rate within the population of ages 15 and over that can read (Swiss Literacy Index, 2013). Overall, Switzerland takes initiative in their education to make sure that each and every student is obtaining quality education.
"Foster Global Citizenship"- Initiative Three:
Looking at the last initiative of fostering global citizenship stated by the UN, is met by Switzerland as it's culture and country is based around diversity. Switzerland as a country holds a large variety of cultures and groups of people. As stated previously, second languages within the school system are taught in all structures and levels of education. The incorporation of language within the schools helps to promote cultural awareness and foster health relationships between differing groups of people (Global Education, 2016). Swiss schools hold a rich sense of culture as a country, and with that comes its Neutral status. The countries neutral take politically, helps to provide an enriched sense of respect for the world and each other.
Education in Switzerland is not only unconventional compared to many other nations but also compulsory. With a wide variety of schools ranging from local Swiss schools to private schools to bilingual schools to international schools, the education standards are extremely high and, much like Switzerland itself, anything but boring. The education system of Switzerland is largely decentralized. There are 26 cantons within Switzerland that are overseen by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) (Education in Switzerland, 2015). However, each canton creates and implements its own standards, which can be detrimental for families moving from one region of the nation to another. Switzerland is ranked number nine out of sixty-five nations and economies in a recent OECD/PISA survey of educational standards among 15-year-olds (Swiss Education System, 2015). Most of the local and international schools are free but still exist at the cost of parents’ paying extremely high taxes. Education in Switzerland is compulsory for 9-11 years, with some children beginning compulsory education when they are four years old and others at six years, until about age 15.
"Put every child in School" - Initiative One:
As Swiss education is compulsory, meaning that it is required by law; every child is put into school. Although education in Switzerland is not required past the age of 15, every child does have an opportunity to go to school. Access to education within Switzerland is noticeably easy to obtain. There are a large variety of schools ranging from; public, private, international and bilingual. All of which that carry an environment that is rich in a variety of cultures, including variations in linguistic backgrounds. Home schooling within Switzerland is uncommon, however those who chose that option have ample support from outside learning resources. Furthermore, most notably, children and young adolescents with special education in Switzerland have a right to education and support from specialists from birth up until their 20th birthday (Swiss Literacy Index, 2013). The Swiss education system in terms of the UN Global Education Initiative does a good job in making sure that every child is put into school, which is stated in its first initiative.
"Improve the Quality of Learning"- Initiative Two:
In terms of the second initiative stated by the UN, Switzerland meets this goal of improving the quality of learning. Switzerland prides its education system on the diverse and various schools that it provides students in the country. Each school structure has its own different attributes however, they all are held to an overall high standard. In public, private and international schools, language development is mainly focused on. Due to the variety of languages spoken throughout the country Switzerland provides students courses on different languages, promoting bilingualism in school. Additionally, the swiss education systems emphasize on students being literate by the age of 15. There is a 99% literacy rate within the population of ages 15 and over that can read (Swiss Literacy Index, 2013). Overall, Switzerland takes initiative in their education to make sure that each and every student is obtaining quality education.
"Foster Global Citizenship"- Initiative Three:
Looking at the last initiative of fostering global citizenship stated by the UN, is met by Switzerland as it's culture and country is based around diversity. Switzerland as a country holds a large variety of cultures and groups of people. As stated previously, second languages within the school system are taught in all structures and levels of education. The incorporation of language within the schools helps to promote cultural awareness and foster health relationships between differing groups of people (Global Education, 2016). Swiss schools hold a rich sense of culture as a country, and with that comes its Neutral status. The countries neutral take politically, helps to provide an enriched sense of respect for the world and each other.
Education Rankings
This graph shows the ranks of education in Europe. Here Switzerland is ranked in the top ten sitting at number seven. This supports initiative two for its quality of education. Study EU. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.study.eu/article/the-study-eu-country-ranking-2017-for-international-students |
Literacy Rates
This graph shows the youth literacy rate within males, females and overall total. This graph helps to support initiative one for access to education for every child. Unicef Data. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from https://data.unicef.org/topic/education/literacy/ |
Sources:
Switzerland Literacy Index. (2013). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.indexmundi.com/switzerland/literacy.html
Education in Switzerland. (2015). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from https://borgenproject.org/education-in-switzerland/
GapMinder. (2017). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.gapminder.org/data/
Global Education. (2016). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/global-education-first-initiative-gefi/
Swiss Education System. (2015). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.edk.ch/dyn/16342.php
Switzerland Literacy Index. (2013). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.indexmundi.com/switzerland/literacy.html
Education in Switzerland. (2015). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from https://borgenproject.org/education-in-switzerland/
GapMinder. (2017). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.gapminder.org/data/
Global Education. (2016). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/global-education-first-initiative-gefi/
Swiss Education System. (2015). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.edk.ch/dyn/16342.php
Government System in Switzerland
Sources:
Swiss Community. (2016). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from https://www.swisscommunity.org/en/explore-switzerland/the-political-system-of-switzerland
Swiss Government. (2015). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/political-system-of-switzerland/swiss-parliament.html
Federal Council. (2014). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from https://www.ch.ch/en/federal-council-election/
Swiss Community. (2016). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from https://www.swisscommunity.org/en/explore-switzerland/the-political-system-of-switzerland
Swiss Government. (2015). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/political-system-of-switzerland/swiss-parliament.html
Federal Council. (2014). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from https://www.ch.ch/en/federal-council-election/