Assumption of talent school costs regulated
According to a Federal Supreme Court ruling, parents cannot be asked to contribute to the tuition costs of a talent school. They can only be charged for expenses incurred for the promotion of instrumental lessons, for example.
In June 2018, the government of the canton of St. Gallen issued an ordinance setting the school fees to be paid by the school authority if a schoolchild attends the recognized talent school of another school authority. The city of St.Gallen lodged an appeal against this with the Federal Supreme Court, citing municipal autonomy. The court has now dismissed the appeal and found that the government was right to regulate the school fees by ordinance and to assess the amount correctly. Talent school providers may neither demand higher school fees from the school provider nor a contribution towards tuition from the parents.
The City of St.Gallen had caused uncertainty with regard to the school fees owed by issuing invoices to the school authorities that deviated from the cantonal requirements. It had also demanded a contribution towards tuition from the parents of the talented pupils. The Federal Supreme Court has now clarified that neither is permissible. In view of the constitutional guarantee that primary school lessons are free of charge, parents cannot be asked to contribute to the cost of lessons. They can only be charged for expenses incurred for the promotion of specific talents, such as instrumental lessons.
