Explaining the reluctance of Swiss-German parents in the uptake of allday childcare and schooling

2023

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This study analyses the attitudes of parents in Switzerland regarding all-day childcare, based on data collected from an online panel of 2,161 parents. Providing high-quality childcare is essential for child development, equal educational opportunities, and increasing female participation in the workforce, all of which contribute to Switzerland’s economic sustainability. The analyses presented in this report are based on primary data covering various aspects of general parental attitudes towards all-day schooling, contrasted with specific views on the own family. They differentiated between German- and French-speaking parents to shed more light on potential regional differences.

Overall, most parents advocate for all-day schools and care; however, significant regional differences emerge in specific attitudes and motivations. For example, although parents in French-speaking regions are reportedly less inclined to general support for all-day schooling, they are more favourable towards enrolling their own children in all-day programme when available. Parents in French-speaking regions also prefer a younger starting age for childcare compared to parents in German-speaking regions, but they are less likely to support all-day care for children under five. Ultimately, individual attitudes toward gender roles and the state’s role, along with socio-demographic factors, play a more significant role in shaping opinions on all-day schooling than regional affiliation.