[zorked]

I'm a foreig parent in Switzerland and have been put through several hours of being told that Gymnasium is not the only way.

I think foreign parents in particular are concerned that their kids are being trapped by a complicated system out of their future chance at a higher education.

[m_mueller]

That‘s the poinz though, there is no trap. You have bridges from vocational education to academic at multiple points - 3rd year gymnasium, vocational maturity, university entrance exam for both bachelor and master. Or you go through one of the very high quality vocational bachelor (and now also master) programs.

[Dreami]

One point I see, if your kid would go for an apprenticeship with the attention of going to a uni of applied sciences later, but then you decide to move to another country. But that's kind of something I can imagine, since your kid could also simply stay there and live as an adult.