Following reports in other media that international sections would open in three communes next year, the ministry told Delano on Tuesday that not all the projects reported had been confirmed.
A spokesperson said that as of the end of August, she could confirm plans for:
- an English and German section in primary and secondary in Junglinster
- a German section in Clervaux
The schools will teach the European schools curriculum with the addition of Luxembourgish classes.
Other projects not defined
A Luxembourg media previously report that Mondorf-les-Bains would incorporate English, French and German sections at secondary and possibly primary levels, but the spokeswoman said on Tuesday the future plan for this school had yet to be defined.
According to commune figures, Junglinster counted 7,421 residents in 2016, of which 36% were foreign nationals. The largest nationality groups were Portuguese (8.15%), French (5.24%), Germans (3.7%), Belgians (3.46%) and Britons (2.59%).
The ministry spokesperson said that the new English section would start in 2018 with “at least the first year of primary and secondary. The question of whether they start with other classes will depend on the respective registration requests.”
The projects come after the opening of the International School Differdange in 2016, with English sections in primary and secondary. The ground-breaking new school saw a sharp growth in registrations over its first year, prompting the creation of an annex in Esch-sur-Alzette, opening in September 2017. It will offer places in years 3, 4 and 5 in the English section.
Another novelty on Luxembourg's education scene this September will be the opening of the Lycée Michel Lucius (LML) primary on a temporary site in Belair. This school will follow the Cambridge Curriculum for the core subjects of English, Maths, Science and ICT.
Luxembourgish will be taught as a language of communication and integration in all classes, while pupils may choose an additional foreign language between French and German in cycle 3 and 4. The project is not a huge leap for LML, which has offered English streams at secondary since 2011. The English language offer is completed by the Athénée de Luxembourg, which teaches the International Baccalaureat in English.
The ministry was reluctant to comment on any further plans for international sections in Luxembourg state schools.
“It is too early to comment on future developments beyond these new offers. But it will remain our priority to adapt the Luxembourg public school system to the heterogeneity of its pupils and to extend the offer according to the needs that will be established,” the spokesperson said.