At a joint press conference held by the Office of Education and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Education on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the Schullagune in Triesen, information was provided on current developments in Liechtenstein’s education system and the start of the 2026–2027 school year. Minister Daniel Oehry and Interim Director of the School Authority Eva Meirer presented new programs for students, the status of key infrastructure projects, and key findings from evaluations and development projects.

With the start of the school year on August 17, 2026, a new chapter in life begins for many children and adolescents. A total of 396 children are starting kindergarten. Another 379 students are entering first grade in primary school for the first time. In secondary schools, 373 students will begin the first grade of lower secondary school. Of these, 116 students will attend a general secondary school, 162 a vocational secondary school, and 95 the Liechtenstein Gymnasium. At the Vocational Maturity School (BMS), 89 students will complete their training in the coming school year. Of these, 37 students are enrolled in the part-time program and 52 in the full-time program.

Schullagune in Triesen: A New Support Program for Students

This year’s press conference was deliberately held at the Schullagune in Triesen. Minister Daniel Oehry presented the new program as an example of modern, needs-based school development. The Schullagune is open to all students at the Triesen school campus and expands the school’s learning environment. When learning in class is temporarily challenging, students can work through the material outside of class and then return to their class group feeling more confident. Children and adolescents thus receive individualized support when needed, are provided with targeted guidance, and have their skills strengthened. At the same time, the Schullagune offers a space for calm and reflection.

Modern School Infrastructure for Future Generations

The expansion of the Mühleholz School Center in Vaduz is proceeding according to plan. Following the groundbreaking ceremony in May 2023, the first construction phase—the “Haus Rot”—was successfully completed. Students moved into the new facilities as early as August 2024. At the start of the 2025 school year, the “Haus Weiss” building was also put into use by the Vaduz Realschule, the Vaduz Oberschule, and the sports school. Work is currently underway on “Haus Schwarz.” It will feature modern shops, art, music, and design classrooms, a school kitchen,

and a fitness area for the Sports School. By February 2027, a total of three new buildings will be available at the Mühleholz campus.

New School Site in Ruggell

Construction of the new Unterland II School Center (SZU II) in Ruggell is also proceeding according to plan. The five buildings are scheduled to open in the summer of 2027. In addition to classrooms for the secondary school and the vocational baccalaureate school, a spacious sports hall is being built. A three-stage recruitment process has been established for future staffing at the Ruggell secondary school. In the first two phases, the positions will be advertised exclusively within the cantonal administration. Public job postings for external applicants will not begin until early 2027.

Office of Education Consistently Pursues Further Development

The Office of Education remains in the midst of a comprehensive development process. Interim Director Eva Meirer will continue the work in prioritized areas in close coordination with the Ministry of Education. In November 2026, the Office of Education will also undergo a routine review by the Audit Committee (GPK). In addition, the Parliament has approved an external evaluation of the Office of Education’s structures and processes. Both procedures provide an opportunity to highlight the quality of the work performed and to identify additional areas for development.

Vocational Maturity School: Recognition in Switzerland

In August 2026, the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Swiss Federal Council will conclude a new agreement on the mutual recognition of vocational baccalaureate diplomas. This agreement is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2027. It establishes a stable and lasting foundation for the mutual recognition of vocational maturity certificates from both countries, supplements existing regulations, strengthens vocational education pathways, and simultaneously takes into account the recognition requirements regarding proficiency in several of Switzerland’s national languages. It also underscores the importance of international mobility and the permeability of the two education systems.

Strengthening Mental Health in the Long Term

The mental health of students remains a central concern of the Liechtenstein education system. The Office of Education, in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), is conducting a multi-year pilot phase that lays the groundwork for future monitoring. Building on a pilot project at the Liechtenstein Gymnasium, the surveys have since been expanded to include all lower and upper secondary schools as well as municipal schools. In the current school year, children in kindergarten and the first and second grades of elementary school are being included for the first time. At the same time, the “Mental Health” working group is developing concrete support services for schools. The long-term goal is the systematic promotion of mental health among all students.

External Evaluation of the Implementation of the Liechtenstein Curriculum

Five years after the introduction of the Liechtenstein curriculum, its implementation was externally evaluated by the Lucerne University of Teacher Education. Overall, the evaluation paints a positive picture. Competencies such as real-life learning, the promotion of cross-curricular competencies, and “Education for Sustainable Development” (ESD) are well established in the schools. “Ethics and Religions” has also become established and is viewed positively by those involved. At the same time, the study identifies areas for improvement. Further steps are needed, particularly with regard to competency-based assessment. Students would like to see more transparent learning objectives and clear assessment criteria.

Working Together to Further Develop Education

In closing, Minister Daniel Oehry emphasized that Liechtenstein has an effective education system with dedicated staff. The projects and evaluations presented demonstrate, on the one hand, high quality in many areas, but on the other hand, also the commitment to continuously improve existing systems. Targeted investments in infrastructure, quality assurance, mental health, and innovative educational programs will lay the foundation for all children and young people in Liechtenstein to learn and thrive to the best of their ability.