Switzerland is deeply divided over whether to make a second national language compulsory in primary schools nationwide
The federal consultation closed yesterday, with parties, teachers and cantons split on two variants from Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider.
The Greens back the stricter option, warning that recent cantonal moves amount to attacks on French.
The liberal PLR rejects both variants, arguing education belongs to the cantons.
For English-speaking families in Switzerland, the outcome will shape when and how children learn German, French or Italian at school.
If cantons stick to their harmonised 2004 strategy, the Federal Council has signalled it will drop the reform altogether.
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