In October 2011 the Canton Zurich Education Authorities enacted new admissions regulations for international schools. According to these regulations international schools may only accept children (of obligatory schooling age) of families who reside temporarily in the Canton of Zurich or who are able to provide credible evidence that they intend to move their place of residence to another Canton or abroad within the foreseeable (or “near”) future.
Affected International schools (Zurich International School, ICS Inter-Community School Zurich, International School of Winterthur, and Swiss International School-Zurich North) have submitted an appeal against these new rules to the Cantonal Government.
The international schools are of the opinion that the new rules constitute a significant step backward from the liberal practice in effect since 1998, that they damage the international reputation of Zurich as a desirable economic location, and that they will be virtually impossible to implement. Restrictions on admissions also appear unnecessary, given that international schools commit (as a condition of being granted Cantonal permission to operate) to integrate the teaching of German as well as Swiss history and culture into their curriculum. In addition, virtually all of the affected schools are either internationally accredited or hold other recognized authorizations which attest to their quality.
The Press Release (in German with English translation) and contact details for the four International Schools is here.