In Switzerland, the main responsibility for education and culture lies with the cantons. They coordinate their work at the national level. The 26 cantonal ministers of education together form a political body to carry out this work: the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK). The EDK is responsible for the national coordination of education and cultural policy. It aims to ensure high quality, equity, permeability and mobility within the Swiss education system.
The EDK’s activities are based on the articles on education in the Federal Constitution and on intercantonal law in matters of education. The EDK has a subsidiary function, fulfilling tasks that cannot be performed by the regions or cantons. It collaborates with the Confederation in the area of education and represents Switzerland in international organisations where their activities touch on matters of education or culture that fall within the responsibility of the cantons.
