According to the Swiss Federal Constitution, the Swiss Confederation and the cantons have a joint obligation, each within the scope of its particular competencies, to ensure a high degree of quality and permeability within the Swiss education system. In the performance of this duty, the entire education system in Switzerland is systematically monitored and evaluated on a regular basis. Knowledge is gathered and methodically processed to produce information of relevance in managing and directing the education system.

The Process Steering Committee, comprising in the Confederation and the cantons, is responsible for the strategic management of education monitoring activities. The co-chairmanship of the Process Steering Committee is held by the General Secretary of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) and the Director of the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET). Other cantonal representatives as well as members of the State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) and the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) have a seat on the Steering Committee.

The Swiss Education Report 2006 was published as a pilot version in December 2006. Data and information derived from statistics, research institutions and administrative bodies were compiled, processed, appropriately presented and set in proper relation in this report. After consideration of external evaluations of the report and input from interested parties, the entities that commissioned the first report decided to commission follow-up Education Reports every four years. They have instructed the Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education to write the Swiss Education Report 2010, which was published in February 2010. The next Swiss Education Report will be presented to the entities (Confederation and Cantons) at the beginning of 2014.