A survey concerning foreign language education in elementary schools has been initiated in the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn. According to a statement from the authorities,the results are intended to inform professional and political discussions on the subject.

Starting tuesday, interviews will be conducted with school administrators, French and English teachers from primary and secondary levels, parent representatives, and students in the fifth and sixth grades. This was announced in a media release from the canton of Basel-Stadt on Monday. Representatives from business and vocational training will also participate.

The evaluations from these groups, along with scientific and professional analysis, will be included in the final report. The goal is for the survey to provide a extensive overview of practical experiences and assessments.

The survey will focus on student motivation,perceptions of language lessons,the perceived importance of language learning,current challenges,and suggestions for enhancement. In the three cantons of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn, French instruction begins in the third grade, while English instruction starts in the fifth grade.

These cantons are implementing the language strategy of the conference of the cantonal educational directors (EDK), which is based on the intercantonal agreement on the harmonization of the mandatory school (Harmos). There is ongoing debate in the German-speaking cantons regarding the optimal timing for introducing French language instruction.