FAQ S-B-A + K-B-A

The Canton of Zug offers the following alternatives to a bridging program: entry into the professional world (EiB), career orientation year (BFJ).

Admission procedure

The admission procedure for the S-B-A and K-B-A examines whether the young people meet the criteria for admission:

1) It is very important that the young people want to learn and work. They must be willing to achieve and work towards their own goals.

Admission
requirements

S-B-A and K-B-A: Willingness to perform / German language competence achieved at level B1 ESP / completion of compulsory schooling (9 school years)

S-B-A: Motivation for 5 days of school

Assessment of the class teacher

Content of the admission request - Memory Stick - Assessment by the class teacher. The form with the answers from the class teacher supports the decision for the appropriate program (S-B-A or K-B-A).

In the canton of Zug, secondary level II schools (post-compulsory schools) work according to the principle of BRING-YOUR-OWN-DEVICE.

All learners work with their own mobile computer.

Career
orientation year

The career orientation year is aimed at young people with:

- Learning disability (declared by the SPD)

- Persistent learning goal adjustments in several subjects

- Diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (certificate)

- Identified higher support needs (by the SPD)

- Support needs recorded by the SHP

Please note: Detailed information on the BFJ on the initial situation and procedure | Goal | BFJ admission procedure

All learners on the bridging programs have a coach. Together, they regularly discuss learning progress and the career choices in coaching conversations. The path to a realistic follow-up solution plays an important role. The parents / legal guardians regularly participate in conversations, such as the portfolio meeting at the end of a term.

Competence
orientation    

At the S-B-A and the K-B-A, the individual learners are at the center. There are no typical classes like in secondary school.

At the S-B-A, the composition and size of the learning groups change depending on the half-day and learning content.

The canton covers the costs for the salaries of the learning facilitators and for the infrastructure.
With the contribution from the legal guardians, school materials, copies, excursions, and external learning events are paid for. Price list for bridge programs in Zug.

The certificate upper school show how school success has developed. They also serve as proof that the 9th school year has been completed (a requirement for admission).
The certificate upper school are very important for the application process for the bridging program.
Training companies are familiar with these reports and can assess the student’s academic achievements. The certificate upper school reports must be included with the applications.

Difference between
K-B-A and S-B-A

The objectives of the two programs do not differ.
 

KBA: The internship plays a central role.
The three days in the working world offer a great opportunity for the learners to become more mature, independent, and grown-up.
The young people experience and see daily what they are capable of achieving practically. They receive feedback from the companies and can attach this to their applications.

SBA: Is a purely school-based program.
In addition to transversal skills, academic content is at the center.
The learners typically work individually on various subject-related topics five days a week. Progress must be made within school-based tasks.
Feedback is provided by fellow learners and coaches.

Entry under 
the year

Admission during the year is possible in exceptional cases if places are available. After registration, a clarification meeting takes place. In the positive case, a provisional admission follows. If an apprenticeship is discontinued, one typically enters the K-B-A.
A recommendation for the FMS or WMS cannot be made if you enter during the year. The time is too short for this.

FMS Fachmittelschule (Vocational High School) / WMS Wirtschaftsmittelschule (Economic Vocational School)

The S-B-A can recommend young people for the two general education schools (assignment decision). In addition to the technical qualification (minimum standards), learners demonstrate their work on cross-disciplinary competencies.
Attending the MISCHU module (preparation for higher education) is mandatory. Furthermore, a recommendation requires attending the S-B-A from August onwards. No recommendations can be made for the Gymnasium (academic high school).

The S-B-A is based on a 40-hour week. This allows all tasks, including applications, to be completed as part of the program.

At the K-B-A, learners must factor in one to three hours of homework per week. They plan this time together with the coach.

Holiday
(school holidays)

The school holidays follow the Zug holiday schedule.

However, there are deviations:

The S-B-A and the K-B-A start on the first Monday in August (same as the start of the apprenticeship).

  => At the S-B-A, the second week of the social internship takes place during the autumn holidays.

  => At the K-B-A, the learners have five weeks of vacation during their internship. These are coordinated with the company (internship contract).
 

For the two school days, the cantonal school holiday schedule applies. During the holidays, support in the area of "applying" is offered to the learners of both programs by agreement.

The bridging programs focus on the development of Interdisciplinary skills. Interdisciplinary skills include, for example:

Organization, appearance, understanding and expression.

Progress in these skills gives the students confidence and strengthens their self-esteem.

These advancements also have a positive impact on learning and achieving their personal goals.

At the end of the internship, learners typically receive a job reference. It is issued by the internship company and confirms the work performance.

A bridging program can be easily combined with a language stay. However, the language stay should take place after the program year has ended.

S-B-A:
Ends at the beginning of June, which allows for a language stay of about two months before starting an apprenticeship or general education school.

K-B-A:
Ends in mid-June, and six to eight weeks of language stay can be planned as preparation for the apprenticeship.
If a language stay begins before the end of the program year, the following conditions apply: The students will exit the program at the end of the previous trimester.
They will receive a school confirmation but not a final certificate.

see «admission requirements»

Homepage | A-B-A Learning Garden ^{Please register as a guest - no password required}

The teachers in the bridging programs are called learning guides (Coach) because their primary role is to accompany and support the young people in their personal learning process. The learning guides ask questions and provide impulses. They give feedback on how the young people are working. The goal is for the learners to make progress, achieve their own goals, and succeed.

The bridging programs of the Canton of Zug are located at three different sites in the city of Zug. Each learning location has space for a maximum of 80 learners. The locations are:

- Baarerstrasse 100, 6300 Zug
  (K-B-A, I-B-A, ABA Office for Bridging Programs)
 

- Ziegelmattweg 1, 6300 Zug
  (S-B-A, I-B-A, BFJ Vocational Orientation Year)
 

- Landis- & Gyr-Strasse 1, 6300 Zug
  (I-B-A, I-B-A-20+)

The small number of learners allows for a personal atmosphere.

For learners who are exempt from learning objectives in several subjects in upper secondary school, the Career orientation year is a sensible alternative to the bridging offer.

All bridging programs have the learning atelier as the focal point. The room is equipped with individual workstations.

The learners can focus on their own goals and learning content.

Independent work in the learning atelier allows for the following experiences: taking responsibility for one's own work and learning, planning time frames, and developing independence. The young people are supported by the coach.

Microwaves are available at all locations of the bridging programs to heat up food you have brought with you.

Learners at the Baarerstrasse 100 site in Zug can eat in the GIBZ canteen.

If you have enough time, you can eat at home or in the city.

Multi-Check /
Basic-Check  

Aptitude tests often need to be attached to an application. In coaching, it is discussed which one is useful and when it can be taken. The learners must register themselves.

In the bridging programs, there are no grades.

The S-B-A indicates the level of competence (six levels) and the degree of achievement (goals achieved / well achieved / excellently achieved).

At the K-B-A, learning facilitators assess the completed work based on the learning objectives. This information is presented in the trimester reports (December and March) and the annual report card (June/July). Trimester reports and the annual report card also provide information about internships, trial apprenticeships, and absences. They also include remarks on the learners' strengths and progress, as well as their work on transversal skills.

«one stop shop» 

(a contact and
information center)

Call +41 41 594 24 44
or at the e-mail address aba@zg.ch you can ask further questions about the bridge offers.

Secure e-mail address for the transmission of sensitive data and information: https://securemail.zg.ch/aba@zg.ch

In August, the S-B-A and K-B-A hold their Out-door Days outside the canton of Zug. These days focus on physical activity and getting to know one another.

The young people engage with their skills in various situations. They face challenges and push beyond their limits.

In career choice, the parents/legal guardians are the most important reference persons for the young people. That is why they are involved in the work (coaching).

In justified cases, an installment payment agreement for the personal contribution or school fees can be requested in writing in advance.
 

Please contact us early, before receiving a payment reminder or dunning notice, at aba@zg.ch. A late fee of an additional CHF 35.00 will be charged upon the second reminder.

SBA and KBA: Experiences in the working and adult world are very important.

SBA: There is a two-week social internship.
The learners work in nursing, in daycare centers (KITA), on a farm, or in a social institution. The social internship takes place one week before and one week during the autumn holidays. Participation is obligatory. During these two weeks, no trial apprenticeships can be carried out.

KBA: The learners do an internship three days a week throughout the year. Almost all activities are eligible for the internship.
These activities do not have to be related to the career they are pursuing. The internship can be compared to a "pocket-money" or "holiday job" in terms of requirements.
After the internship, students receive feedback (SBA) or a work certificate (KBA). These documents can be very valuable for applications to apprenticeship positions.

The learners in the bridging programs work on their own goals. This involves creating independent work, planning, and reflections.

Learners receive feedback from other learners and learning facilitators on their work. All of these documents are collected in a portfolio.

The portfolio demonstrates personal progress and learning paths.

The learners show this evidence at various discussions:

coaching sessions, portfolio discussions with their parents/legal guardians at the end of the trimester, job interviews, and focus meetings with their future vocational trainers.

School confirmations may only be issued to learners after their first day of school.

If parents or legal guardians are unable to pay the school fees (outside the canton) or the personal contribution, they are asked to contact the social welfare office in their municipality of residence.

Sports days in May

In May, the S-B-A organizes sports days outside the canton of Zug. During these days, physical activity and socializing with fellow learners are the focus.

The young people engage with their skills in various situations. They face challenges and push beyond their limits.

At the S-B-A, the young people work and learn in subject-specific half-days: German, foreign languages (English, French), mathematics, natural science/informatics, and world studies. In all subjects, cross-disciplinary competencies are the focus. In Impuls 1 & 2, work on personal goals is planned and evaluated.

Elective subjects include: DAZ (German as a second language), Feelokay (student council), media group, and presentation skills. Sports is a compulsory subject.

School year 2025/26

S-B-A
Start: August 04, 2025  /  End: June 05, 2026

K-B-A
Start: August 04, 2025  /  End: June 19, 2026

School year 2026/27

S-B-A
Start: August 03, 2026  /  End: June 04, 2027

K-B-A
Start: August 03, 2026  /  End: June 18, 2027

If you would like to register for the S-B-A or the K-B-A, you will need a stick with all the information and documents for the admission procedure.

Order the stick after the sports vacations by sending mailto:aba@zg.ch. Please note the registration deadline!

The young people in the bridge programs should succeed: in learning and in the search for a follow-up solution.

Support

There are no typical timetables as in the upper school. At the bridging programs, we work in block hours with a lunch break.

• S-B-A: 08.30 to 17.00
• K-B-A: 08.15 to 16.15

Trial apprenticeships are an important part of career choice.  They help to find the right profession and the right company.

That is why it is always possible to do a trial apprenticeship at the bridging programs, with a few exceptions. A trial apprenticeship is planned and evaluated together with the learning guides.

Informative links:
Berufsberatung.ch
Yousty

The bridging programs are divided into three trimesters:

• First trimester – Start (August) – Mid-November
• Second trimester – Mid-November – Mid-March
• Third trimester – Mid-March – End (summer holidays)

At the end of each trimester, learners reflect on their own learning and work.

At the portfolio discussion, they show their progress and processes with the help of their documents (portfolio).

The school performance are recorded in a trimester report (grades / report card).

In a 3-5 minute film, the young people introduce themselves in standard language.

A detailed guide provides specific information on the content. The focus should be on the content of the video. Background music, intro, and credits are not desired.

WMS Wirtschaftsmittelschule (Economic Vocational School) / FMS Fachmittelschule (Vocational High School)

The S-B-A can recommend young people for the two general education schools (assignment decision).

In addition to the technical qualification (minimum standards), learners demonstrate their work on cross-disciplinary competencies.

Attending the MISCHU module (preparation for higher education) is mandatory. Furthermore, a recommendation requires attending the S-B-A from August onwards.