Swiss Federal Council proposes law to enforce second national language in primary schools
The Swiss Federal Council on Friday opened a consultation on amending the Language Act to require primary school pupils to learn a second national language, countering moves by several German-speaking cantons to postpone French lessons.
Cantons push to drop early French
Several German-speaking cantons have recently voted to move French instruction from primary to secondary school level. Zurich made its decision last September, St. Gallen followed in autumn 2025, Appenzell Ausserrhoden a year ago and Thurgau in April 2026. The trend has also surfaced in Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen and even bilingual Bern, where a motion was tabled and later withdrawn. Cantonal arguments cite pupil workload and poor learning outcomes, claiming the curriculum is overloaded and a later start would bring relief.
- Language harmonisation strategy adopted, later integrated into HarmoS Concordat (2009)
- Appenzell Ausserrhoden parliament abolishes early French
- Zurich cantonal council votes to shift French to secondary school
- St. Gallen parliament follows with same decision
- Thurgau Grand Council moves French to upper level
- Federal Council opens consultation on Language Act amendments
- Consultation deadline
Two variants for the law
The government proposes two options. The first writes into the Language Act the existing HarmoS requirement of two foreign languages at primary level, a national language plus English, followed by 15 of 26 cantons. The second offers cantons more leeway, mandating only a second national language from primary school through to the end of lower secondary without specifying English.
The status of the national languages in compulsory education is a matter of national importance.
Government warns of threat to cohesion
Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told media in Bern that linguistic plurality is a pillar of Swiss cohesion and essential for communication, including economic reasons. The Constitution gives the Confederation a broad mandate to safeguard national languages.
If the cantons cannot manage to settle the language question, the federal government will have to act.
A preventive measure with a deadline
The move has a primarily preventive dimension, Baume-Schneider stressed. If cantons stick to the existing language strategy, the government will shelve the bill. The consultation runs until 5 October 2026, and any law would need parliamentary approval. The Council said it would follow local debates closely before deciding whether to proceed.
