Soziale Selektivität in der Bildung - kein politisches Problem?

Abstract

As in many other European countries, voter turnout in Switzerland has not increased despite increasing levels of education among the voting population, and differences in participation between the highest and the lowest educated have even grown (Armingeon and Schädel 2015). This contribution starts with the question: How do educational differences in Switzerland come about? An overview of the current state of research shows that family background – not school performance – explains a significant part of educational success. Yet, these effects of social selectivity contradict equal opportunity, leading to a sub-optimal selection of specialists and academically qualified within economy and society. In addition, it compromises social mobility. A principal question hence arises: Why does politics react much less to this challenge than to the promotion of skill potentials of other societal groups, for example those of women or youth in rural areas? Answers are sought on the basis of four hypotheses. Possible consequences for economy, society, community and democracy are discussed in the last section.