1. État, peuple, Authorities » 17. Authorities » 172. Government, Administration and Advisory Councils

1 The School Council is the advisory body to the Government and the departments on important issues relating to education, instruction, and training.

2 It promotes consultation between school authorities, teaching staff, parents, and students.

1 The School Council is consulted on

a) the development of legislation related to education, instruction, and training;

b) school planning, coordination, and cooperation;

c) the general organization of various levels of education;

d) the recognition of private schools;

e) the training of teaching staff, curricula, and teaching resources;

f) important issues concerning school life, vocational training, and adult education.

2 On its own initiative, the School Council may request the Government to conduct inquiries, studies, and reports; it may make proposals to the Government or the concerned departments.

3 It also fulfills the tasks and exercises the powers vested in it by legislation.

1 The School Council consists of nineteen members

a) six representatives of teachers, including one from private education;

b) one representative of adult education;

c) six representatives of parents of students, including one from associations of parents of children with disabilities and one from foreign communities;

d) two representatives of students;

e) two representatives of apprentices;

f) one representative of trade unions and one representative of employers' associations.

2 A representative of each recognized Church attends the sessions with a consultative voice.

3 The relevant ministers are invited to the sessions; the head of the Education Department and the head of the Vocational Training Department attend the sessions for matters within their competence.

4 At the request of the School Council or the president, and with the agreement of the relevant minister, employees of the cantonal administration, experts, or representatives of associations may be invited to the sessions, where they sit with a consultative voice.

1 The Government appoints the members of the School Council mentioned in Article 3, paragraphs 1 and 2, upon the proposal of the relevant associations, schools, or communities, taking into account a fair geographical representation as well as the necessary balance between the various levels of education.

2 The members of the School Council are appointed for the term of the legislature, with the exception of student and apprentice representatives, who are appointed for a period of two years; their mandate can be renewed once.

1 The School Board constitutes itself; it appoints its president and vice-president for the term.

2 The Department of Education provides the secretariat.

1 The School Council shall meet at least twice a year and whenever the Government, one of the concerned ministers, or one-third of its members so request.

2 The costs shall be borne by the interested services and allocated in proportion to the matters addressed.

This law is subject to an optional referendum.

The Government determines the commencement of this law.