Ticino school: focus on language skills and promotion of reading

Post on: 23.05.2025

The results of the 2023 edition of the Verification of the achievement of key competences (VECOF) have been published. The national survey, now in its third edition, involved fourth-grade students, focusing on the language of schooling – Italian, in the case of Ticino – and on second languages, i.e. French and German.

The data, presented on the morning of 22 May in Bern, were examined in depth in the afternoon in Ticino during an infopoint organised at the 1 Middle Schools in Bellinzona by the Department of Education, of culture and sport (DECS). The presentation was attended by the director of DECS, Marina Carobbio Guscetti, flanked by experts in the field.

Italian, French and German: the results achieved

In Italian, 85% of Ticino students achieved fundamental skills in reading comprehension, while 77% achieved positive results in spelling. These results place the canton among the best nationally, with a Swiss average of 82%.

As far as second languages are concerned, the performance in French was higher than the national average: 77% reached the basic level in listening comprehension, and 65% in reading comprehension, compared to a Swiss average of 58% and 51%. It should be remembered, however, that in Ticino French is an optional subject starting from the eighth grade, so some students in the sample had not followed the course for one or two years.

The results are instead below average as regards German, which in Ticino is taught as third language (L3) and introduced later than in other cantons. Only 51% achieved the fundamental skills in listening comprehension (compared to an average of 58%), and 45% in reading comprehension (compared to 52% nationally). From 2026/2027, however, Ticino will bring forward the teaching of German at the first grade.

Gender differences and the impact of the social context

The survey showed differences between girls and boys. In Italian spelling, for example, 84% of girls achieved their goals, compared to 70% of boys. The socioeconomic context also has a strong impact: 91% of students from wealthy families (top quartile) achieved fundamental skills in reading comprehension, compared to 76% of those from more fragile backgrounds (lower quartile).

Carobbio: "Investing in literacy is essential"

"Although the results are generally positive," said Marina Carobbio Guscetti, "a fifth of students have difficulties in reading comprehension and a quarter in spelling. This is not only a scholastic problem, but a social one: the ability to understand and use language is essential to actively participate in public and economic life. Low literacy puts people at risk of social exclusion and disinformation. Investing in language skills means investing in the future of our society."

A new project to promote reading at school

On the occasion of the Swiss Day of Reading Aloud, the DECS has launched a new project to promote reading, aimed at all school levels. The initiative stems from data from the PISA 2022 survey, which had found that about a fifth of fifteen-year-old students in Ticino had difficulty reading comprehension.

To respond to this critical issue, a working group was set up which produced a document full of teaching strategies, operational ideas and thematic bibliographies. The material is now available online on the website scuolalab.ch, aimed at teachers and schools.

The project also includes a collaboration with RSI Edu, which will create a series of videos dedicated to reading designed especially for compulsory school students.

Conclusion

The day of presentation of the VECOF 2023 results was an opportunity to reflect on the state of language teaching in Ticino. The quality of Ticino schools is confirmed by the data, but important challenges also emerge, especially in terms of equity and the promotion of reading. As Director Carobbio pointed out, "we thank all those who are committed every day to strengthening the language skills of our young people, thus contributing to building an inclusive and quality school".