THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BERUFSMATURA (VOCATIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATE) IN SWITZERLAND AS TOUCHSTONE FOR A REORIENTATION OF BOTH GENERAL AND VOCATIONAL-EDUCATION

At present, the Swiss educational system is subject to extreme reformatory efforts. These are directly occasioned by the European integration, which - despite the vote against the entry into the European Economic Community of december 1992 - suggests ''Eurocompatible'' innovations so as not to become politically isolated. Teacher education, the secondary school curriculum, the institutions of higher education and schools of engineering, which have to be changed into technical colleges, as well as vocational education are the institutions most affected. The author enquires into the historical legitimation of vocational education, which is again challenged by the introduction of the ''Berufsmatura''. A redefinition of qualifications in the educational system caused by changes in educational policy also leads to far-reaching curricular changes because both ''general education'' and the school-related part of vocational education are being upgraded in relation to firm-based training, thus relativizing traditional vocational education.