Consulting the School Integration and Welcoming Service (SIA)
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The School Integration and Welcoming Service (Service de l’intégration et de l’accueil scolaire - SIA) is the department of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth (Ministère de l'Education nationale, de l'Enfance et de la Jeunesse - MENEJ) which :
- welcomes students aged between 4 and 24 included who have newly arrived in the country;
- informs young people about the Luxembourg school system and the support measures planned for newly arrived pupils;
- directs young people to classes that best match their language skills and profile and so facilitating their integration into Luxembourg society;
- coordinates, among other things, the international school offer and the requests for intercultural mediator interventions with school authorities.
Who is concerned
All newly arrived students aged 4 to 24.
How to proceed
Classes available for newly arrived students
All information concerning the schooling of children who have newly arrived in the country may be obtained from the School Integration and Welcoming Service (Service de l’intégration et de l’accueil scolaires) (phone: (+352) 247 75274); email: secretariat.sia@men.lu).
Students who are fluent in Luxembourg's languages of instruction (German, French, and, depending on the level, English) are placed in regular classes.
Students who have a very good academic level, but who lack knowledge of the languages of instruction in Luxembourg, can integrate insertion classes that offer either:
- intensive French classes;
- or intensive German classes (provided sufficent knowledge of French).
Newly arrived students who do not know either German or French can be admitted to a reception class (Classe d'acceuil - ACCU) These classes provide intensive course in French and introductory courses in Luxembourgish.
Students aged 15 and over who wish to access the upper classes of general secondary education can enter a language-specific class (Classe à régime linguistique spécifique - RLS), provided they have a good level of French. The subjects are taught in French, and German is taught as a foreign language. The curriculum remains the same as that of other classes in all other subjects. The list of schools offering one or more RLS class(es) can be consulted on the MENEJ website.
Young people between 16 and 17 years of age can integrate an integration class for young adults (Classes d'insertion pour jeunes adultes - CLIJA). These classes offer intensive French courses and basic training that allow access to general secondary education, vocational training or working life.
Young people between 18 and 24 years of age can integrate an integration class for young adults (Classes d'insertion pour jeunes adultes - CLIJA+). These classes offer intensive courses in French or German and a basic training that prepares the young person to join a subsequent training or to enter active life.
International school offer
Luxembourg has developed its international school offer over the years. It is currently possible to take an European Baccalaureate, an International Baccalaureate or to follow the British Curriculum.
Some schools also extend their offer to the primary school level.
Secondary education classes
European baccalaureate
The International School Differdange & Esch-sur-Alzette offers French, English and German speaking sections.
The Lënster Lycée offers first year secondary education classes in the English and German-speaking sections.
The Lycée in Mondorf offers first year secondary education classes in the English, French and German-speaking sections.
The Lycée Edward Steichen in Clervaux offers first year secondary classes in the French and German-speaking sections.
International baccalaureate (BI)
The classes leading to the International Baccalaureate are offered either in French at the Lycée Technique du Centre or in English at the Athénée du Luxembourg.
British curriculum
Classes in English are offered at Lycée Michel Lucius. They prepare for the following diplomas and certifications:
- International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE);
- Advanced Subsidiary level (AS-level);
- Advanced level (A-level).
Mediator / Ombudsman
Teachers, parents and school authorities can make free use of an intercultural mediator.
Mediators may assist when students and parents arrive, translate information about prior schooling in the country of origin, provide oral or written translations, assist with any medical or psychological care related to school, and occasionally help in class.
Mediators speak, in addition to the languages common in Luxembourg, one or more of the following languages:
- Albanian;
- Arab;
- Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serb;
- Bulgarian;
- Chinese;
- Korean;
- Cape-Verdian Creole;
- Guinea-Bissau Creole;
- Spanish;
- Filipino;
- Georgian;
- Greek;
- Hungarian;
- Italian;
- Kurdish;
- Mankanya;
- Dutch;
- Nepalese;
- Persian;
- Polish;
- Portuguese;
- Romanian;
- Russian;
- Slovak;
- Czech;
- Thai;
- Tigrinya;
- Turkish;
- Ukranian;
- Vietnamese;
- Wolof.
Enrolment procedures
Children aged 12 to 24 are guided towards secondary education. To do this, they must go through the School service for newly arrived children (Cellule d'accueil scolaire pour élèves nouveaux arrivants - CASNA), which is part of the SIA and which provides information to students and their families. This Service takes stock of their academic and linguistic knowledge so that they can be guided towards the most appropriate school class corresponding to their profile.
At the first meeting with the CASNA, the following documents must be provided:
- ID card or passport;
- social security card;
- report cards for the past 2 school years;
- family civil status record or certificate of filing of application for international protection.
On the basis of these documents, the CASNA prepares a school enrolment file and carries out an initial assessment (test) of the student so that they can be guided to the most appropriate secondary school.
If the student wishes to enrol in a private general secondary school, the procedures with the CASNA are not required. In that case, parents must directly contact the private school of their choice. Similarly, students who wish to enter one of the international public schools do not need to report to CASNA but should directly contact the schools which will evaluate the students' records.
Who to contact
-
Ministry of Education, Children and Youth School Integration and Welcoming Service (SIA)
- Address:
- 38, Rue Philippe II L-2340 Luxembourg Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 75274
- Email address:
- secretariat.sia@men.lu
Counter opening hours (by appointment only):
Open ⋅ 8.00 - 11.45 , 13.00 - 16.45
- Thursday:
- 8.00 to 11.45 , 13.00 to 16.45
- Friday:
- 8.00 to 11.45 , 13.00 to 16.45
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8.00 to 11.45 , 13.00 to 16.45
- Tuesday:
- 8.00 to 11.45 , 13.00 to 16.45
- Wednesday:
- 8.00 to 11.45 , 13.00 to 16.45
-
Ministry of Education, Children and Youth School service for newly arrived pupils (Cellule d'accueil scolaire pour élèves nouveaux arrivants – CASNA)
- Address:
-
29, rue Aldringen
L-1118
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
B.P. L-2926 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 76570
- Email address:
- secretariat.secam@men.lu
- Website:
- http://www.men.public.lu/
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Schooling of foreign pupils
on the site of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth
-
Métiers et professions
sur le site de la Maison de l'orientation
-
Brochure "Welcome to Luxembourgish schools"
on the website of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth
Legal references
-
Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 10 juillet 2003
portant institution de classes d'accueil et de classes d'insertion dans le cycle inférieur et le régime préparatoire de l'enseignement secondaire technique
-
Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 10 juillet 2003
introduisant des classes à régime linguistique spécifique au régime technique, au régime de la formation de technicien et au régime professionnel de l'enseignement secondaire technique
