Monday, August 18, 2025, some 19,761 students and 2,142 teachers will resume the way to the compulsory school. This return to school will be marked by a ban on the use of mobile phones, or other private connected devices, in the school framework and by a desire to collectively take up the challenge that is spelling for students. This return to school is also the first of the new head of compulsory education service, Mr. Serge Ramel.
From next Monday, 19,334 students attached to a school center will return: 6,678 will integrate one of the 372 classes of cycle 1, 7,097 will frequent one of the 384 classes of cycle 2 and 5,559 will join one of the 304 classes of cycle 3. Among these 19,334 students, 466 students will benefit from support in a special class. In addition, 427 students will be educated in a specialized school or in a special education institution. Thus, in total, 19,761 students are compulsory education.
There is also stability of the average workforce, by regular training class, or 17,98 students in cycle 1, 18,76 students in cycle 2 and 19.47 students in cycle 3.
The final figures will however be published this fall in the Statistical Memento of the Neuchâtel School, on the basis of the workforce noted in October.
Regulated use of private digital equipment
Mobile phones or other private connected devices will have to be turned off and stored, so as to be not visible and non -usable. This measure applies to all pupils of public schools in compulsory education, from the 1st to 11th year, in the school framework. The use of mobile phones remains possible punctually in a clearly defined educational framework (digital education courses, prevention actions or didactic projects supervised by teaching staff).
It is a question of responding to growing concerns linked to the mental health of students and certain problematic uses of screens. The rule, already widely in force, is now the same in all schools in the canton of Neuchâtel. It concretizes a common position taken last June by the chiefs of the departments in charge of the education of the Latin cantons, meeting within the Intercantonal Public Instruction Conference (CIIP).
An action plan to take up the spelling challenge
The third national survey verifying the damage to fundamental skills (COFO survey) in 11th year students of students showed, last May, that only 36% of Neuchâtel students reached the expected skills in spelling. Even if this evaluation can be nuanced in several respects, this observation remains worrying. The canton therefore intends to take measures to remedy it, in consultation with the other French-speaking cantons and the professionals. Improving the skills of students in spelling will include:
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a valuation of ritualized activities in the new educational means of French -speaking (sea);
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a clarification of the role of spelling in other disciplines;
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Free access activities for students and their families on the Iclasses platform.
In addition, and in conjunction with the week of the French language and the Francophonie (SLFF) in March 2026, a week of spelling will be organized in all school centers.
Continuation of the introduction of digital education
Introduced gradually as a discipline since 2022, digital education will appear in the 6th and 10th years classes at the start of the school year. The entire compulsory education will be covered at the start of the 2026 school year.
From the 10th year, students benefit from an additional hour at the time grid to develop their skills in this area. At the smallest degrees, the content specific to this discipline are discussed transversely.
Prima / Anima in Progression
The immersive teaching of German, within a primary class [1] or anima [2]continues its increase: it concerns 3,799 students (+11.2%), in 209 classes (+10%).
At a time when the teaching of French at the primary level is questioned in several Cantons of German -speaking Switzerland, it is important to recall that many arguments argue in favor of early learning of national languages: national cohesion, equal opportunities in access to training, educational efficiency, development of transversal skills and linguistic balance. Indeed, plurilingualism constitutes a pillar of Swiss identity: early learning of national languages promotes intercultural understanding and strengthens solidarity between the regions of the country. Consequently, any unilateral questioning of linguistic compromise threatens confidence between the various Swiss regions. Initiatives like Prima / Anima also show that teaching, even partial, in a foreign language strengthens global learning without harming other disciplines.
A “measurement plan” for students in difficulty
As of the start of the 2025-2026 school year, the “special measurement plan” will gradually replace the follow-up booklet and local documents to organize and monitor support for special educational needs. This new device does not result in any change in the aid already in place, but it guarantees clearer, harmonized and transparent support for each child in all schools in the canton.
First school year for the new head of service
Finally, this school year will be the first for Mr. Serge Ramel as a new head of the compulsory education service. He succeeded, since August 1, 2025, to Mr. Jean-Claude Marguet who retired after working in his function for the Neuchâtel school for 25 years. Head of the Office of Pedagogy and Schooling for two years, Mr. Ramel already has a fine knowledge of the files of the service and the challenges of the Neuchâtel school, as of the Swiss education system.
[1] Prima offers German teaching by immersion throughout compulsory education, from 1 to 11th year; Various disciplines (eg geography, history, visual arts) are taught in German.
[2] Anima provides German teaching from various disciplines but only over a year; So apart from the construction of a prima “sector”.
