THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BERUFSMATURA (VOC ATIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATE) IN SWITZERLAND AS TOUCHSTONE FOR A REORIENTATION OF BOTH GENERAL AND VOCATIONAL-EDUCATION

At present, the Swiss educational system is subject to extreme reforma tory efforts. These are directly occasioned by the European integratio n, which - despite the vote against the entry into the European Econom ic Community of december 1992 - suggests ''Eurocompatible'' innovation s so as not to become politically isolated. Teacher education, the sec ondary school curriculum, the institutions of higher education and sch ools of engineering, which have to be changed into technical colleges, as well as vocational education are the institutions most affected. T he author enquires into the historical legitimation of vocational educ ation, which is again challenged by the introduction of the ''Berufsma tura''. A redefinition of qualifications in the educational system cau sed by changes in educational policy also leads to far-reaching curric ular changes because both ''general education'' and the school-related part of vocational education are being upgraded in relation to firm-b ased training, thus relativizing traditional vocational education.