Consulting the Department for the Schooling of Foreign Children (SECAM)

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The Department for the Schooling of Foreign Children (Service de scolarisation des enfants étrangers - SECAM) 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 12 and 24 included who have newly arrived in the country.

The department informs young people about the Luxembourg school system and the support measures planned for newly arrived pupils.

The department directs young people to classes that best match their language skills and profile and so facilitating their integration into Luxembourg society.

SECAM 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 12 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 Department for the Schooling of Foreign Children (Service de la scolarisation des enfants étrangers) (phone: (+352) 247-76570); email: secretariat.secam@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 SECAM 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

Department for the Schooling of Foreign Children (Service de la Scolarisation des Enfants Etrangers - SECAM)

Department for the Schooling of Foreign Children (Service de la Scolarisation des Enfants Etrangers - SECAM)

School Service for Newly Arrived Pupils (Cellule d'Accueil Scolaire pour Elèves Nouveaux Arrivants - CASNA)

School Service for Newly Arrived Pupils (Cellule d'Accueil Scolaire pour Elèves Nouveaux Arrivants - CASNA)

Related procedures and links

Procedures

Registering a child who has recently arrived in the country in a basic education class Enrolment in secondary education (from the age of 12 +)

Links

Further information

Legal references

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