Voluntary Public Preschool from the First Year of Life.

Problem

• Many parents cannot or can only partially return to work because suitable childcare is lacking.
• Current policy relies more on longer parental leave or additional vacation instead of expanding childcare services, which exacerbates the shortage of skilled workers.
• A longer exit from working life makes it harder for parents to keep up with the rapid developments in the labor market – their expertise loses relevance, and their economic potential remains unused.
• Women are still frequently discriminated against due to pregnancy.
• A university education is almost entirely financed by the state, but early childhood care was not. Although the influence on school success in this early developmental phase is crucial.

Solution

• Introduction of a state-funded and organized preschool from the first year of life based on the model of today's kindergarten to ensure equal opportunities and compatibility of work and family.
• Preschool is voluntary; parents can decide for themselves whether they want to use this offer.
• Integration of preschool into the existing education system with direct connection to kindergartens to make transitions pedagogically meaningful and continuous.
• Clear and transparent state quality control of preschools analogous to the control of public kindergartens to ensure equivalent care.
• The organization is carried out like kindergarten through the cantonal education or upbringing departments and is coordinated via the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Education Directors (EDK).

Benefit

• Parents can better reconcile family and career, as fewer financial and professional disadvantages arise when starting a family.
• Companies benefit from qualified professionals returning faster and talents being retained in the long term.
• Companies benefit from qualified professionals returning faster and less productivity loss occurring.

Public support

Total votes: 134

Breakdown: FullyOnBoard: 69, SoundsGood: 27, Concerns: 14, NoChance: 11, NothingAgainstIt: 7, NeedForDiscussion: 6

Discussion

• M. H. (2026-07-08): I don’t only see the financial side; it’s also about the complex and sometimes insecure care organization surrounding the little child. Not everyone has grandparents, a daycare center, or can afford care. With a public preschool there would be a basic security for everyone at all times, and the acquisition of the German language would also be secured, which is necessary for school development before kindergarten (which is currently in political discussion).
• M. H. (2026-07-08): But it does make it easier for every woman or couple to decide when they want to return to work or continue their career, and it can be done when a secure, quality‑checked childcare service is available at any time. The economy and businesses are also responsible for this.
• ↳ R. P. (2026-07-08): It is doubtful whether one can speak of “facilitating.” It can also happen that there is pressure to earn money again as quickly as possible—whether one wants to or not. The “decision” is strongly influenced on one side by the financial incentive. It is no longer that free. A kind of “care allowance” that one can spend on external care or on one’s own care would be something that would enable a free decision.
• R. P. (2026-06-11): If the state finances early childcare, all those who prefer not to hand their own child over to the state would be disadvantaged. Therefore, for fairness, ALL should receive financial support so that one can freely decide whom to entrust one's child to. Otherwise it will become a financial coercion: rich parents can choose, poorer ones must claim the care in order to immediately be able to work again to earn money.
• ↳ O. H. (2026-07-05): Obligation does not arise: Preschool would, like today’s kindergarten, be voluntary. Those who want to provide care themselves can continue to do so. Your main point is correct, however: a free offer shifts the financial incentives. Those who provide care themselves forego income without compensation. This is a real effect, but not a special problem of this initiative; it applies to any free public service, including primary school. Your idea of giving all parents money regardless of the form of care is understandable and already exists in principle (e.g., care vouchers). But that is a separate family‑policy question. It does not contradict this initiative, but could be discussed as a complement.
• R. P. (2026-06-05): According to Source 2: “After the birth of a child, women in Switzerland on average interrupt their careers for 9.2 years.” It is very doubtful whether care from the first year of life changes that much. It obviously isn’t only about early care.