Consul General of Switzerland visits a One School, One Country programme school in São Paulo

10 June 2015

On 10 June 2015, the Afrânio Peixoto State school-one of the host-schools in the One School One Country programme, which is part of WorldSkills São Paulo 2015, welcomed the Consul General of Switzerland, Claudio Leoncavallo, in São Paulo.

Adrien Claivaz, project manager at the Swiss Consulate, also participated and both of them had a lively chat with students about culture and traditions in Switzerland; geographical, climate, and population information; as well as the political and social scenario in the country. They talked about environment and sustainability concerns, highlighting excellent Swiss public transport and security systems and contextualizing the historic war period, which transformed the country into what it is today. Claudio and Adrien also mentioned that Switzerland became a rich country primarily by investing in education and said that the country has many foreigners working in industries and companies. Finally, they explained what kind of work the Consulate is responsible for, describing main activities in the country.

The students were very excited and curious about the visit and asked the Consul about various different topics including Swiss food, music, languages, tourist spots, most popular sports, types of housing, and the famous chocolates and cheese. The children also told the Consul and Adrien about some typical Brazilian characteristics, such as the traditional Festa Junina parties, beautiful beaches, and feijoada (Brazilian black bean dish).

Education in Switzerland

In Switzerland, 60% of the young people are enrolled in vocational and technical courses: they attend a vocational school two or three times per week and also work at companies, simultaneously, to learn and experience the activities related to their skill in practical terms, and gradually understand how a company operates. When students turn 15, they already have significant experience, great potential and training, which will help them enter the labour market.

In Switzerland, there is also a credibility relationship between the public and private sectors. Companies trust the Swiss education system, working in an integrated manner to help students enter the labour market as soon as they finish their technical courses.

The Consul mentioned that "Switzerland currently has a vocational education system that is very valuable and has an excellent reputation, but this took a long time and we had to work hard. We can´t stop moving forward and we hope to improve daily.“ Claudio also mentioned "what happened today in these classrooms is a perfect representation of what we want to achieve through an event like WorldSkills Competition. We are very proud of this partnership, because we are traditionally known for our education quality and can share our experiences and knowledge with Brazil and learn from your country, as well, which has a very solid vocational education history and potential for even more progress."

Adrien concluded by saying, "it will be a very important exchange opportunity for both sides. A unique experience for all of the Delegations, where we can share experiences, cultures, languages, and get to know how the Brazilian educational system works and which opportunities we offer youth, and Brazilian receptivity is always great. ".

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