Registering a child who has recently arrived in the country in primary education
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In Luxembourg, Luxembourgish is the language used to communicate. At school, the pupils are taught to read in German. The teaching languages at the primary educational level are Luxembourgish, German and French.
Recently arrived pupils who do not have the necessary language skills, may temporarily be entitled to take a 'welcome class' (cours d'accueil). The objective of this class is to provide pupils with the necessary language skills so as to be able to follow the course programme in their regular classes, and to help them with their integration into the learning cycle that corresponds to their age.
Who is concerned
This initiative is available to all children between 4 and 11 years of age (independently of their nationality) whose parents have recently moved to Luxembourg.
How to proceed
Enrolling in a welcome class
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 76 570 / email: secretariat.secam@men.lu).
A pupil joining the primary education programme during the school year and who does not have a sufficient command of Luxembourgish (1st learning cycle), German or French (2nd, 3rd or 4th cycles) to resume school at their level, has to take one or more intensive welcome courses each week in addition to their form class (classe d'attache) in order to learn the language(s) needed for their successful integration.
Pupils must be registered at the education department of the commune where they live, or at the commune's secretariat.
The following items must be presented:
- an ID document;
- the family record book or marriage certificate and the childrens' birth certificates;
- registration certificate (also available from the census office) and, where applicable, a permanent residence permit or residence permit.
Newly arrived children who are entering a primary education programme in the course of the mandatory school year are enrolled, on the decision of the director of primary education, in the school cycle that corresponds to their age and prior preparation.
Subjects taught and number of lessons
The subjects that may be taught in the welcome courses are:
- intensive German, followed by an introduction to French;
- intensive French, followed by an introduction to German;
- introduction to Luxembourgish;
- mathematics, taught in French, for pupils without sufficient knowledge of German.
The number of lessons and subjects taught in a welcome class are set according to the academic and language assessment for the pupil, which is determined in conjunction with whoever has parental authority, and according to their individual educational training plan, which is prepared at the time of enrolment by the regular class teacher, in collaboration with the teacher in charge of the welcome classes and the teaching staff.
The number of lessons in the welcome class is gradually decreased over the course of the cycle, depending on the pupil's progress and language acquisition. Conversely, pupils take more classes with their form class.
Organisation of the welcome classes
The goal of the welcome classes is to facilitate the integration of pupils into the regular classes (either partially or completely), by providing them with intensive classes in the languages used by the school. Each pupil is enrolled in a form class in the cycle corresponding to their age. To begin with, the pupil is enrolled on a limited number of courses with their peers in their form class. Depending on their progress, the extent of this integration is gradually increased.
Pupils who have newly arrived in the country learn the languages intensively, and depending on the language(s) they already know. At the beginning, teaching is limited to a single language;
1st cycle
In the 1st cycle of primary education, the pupil receives an introduction to Luxembourgish in one or more lessons per week, which may be divided.
Pupils who are enrolled in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th cycle and who do not have sufficient knowledge of German or French to be able to take the primary education curriculum are also entitled to take a welcome class. This aims to ensure intensive acquisition of either German or French and, where applicable, an introduction to the other of these 2 languages.
2nd cycle
In the 2nd cycle of primary education, a pupil who does not yet know how to read and who does not yet know any of the school languages will be learning German by taking an intensive course. This is also the case for pupils who only speak French. An introduction to Luxembourgish may be given when significant progress in German has been made.
A pupil who already knows how to read but who does not know any of the school languages, or French, will attend the 2nd year of the 2nd cycle of education. Such pupils will take an intensive German course. Where applicable, they begin learning French in their form class. An introduction to Luxembourgish may be given when significant progress in German has been made.
3rd cycle
In the 3rd cycle of primary education, a pupil who does not yet know any of the school languages will learn German by taking an intensive course. This is also the case for pupils who only speak French.
Subsequently, a pupil who does not know French takes an introduction to French course, once significant progress in German has been made. A pupil who knows German takes an intensive French course. They can begin taking the introduction to Luxembourgish course once significant progress in either German or French has been made.
4th cycle
In the 4th cycle of primary education, a pupil who does not know any of the school languages takes an intensive French course. A pupil who knows German takes an intensive French course. A pupil who knows French takes an intensive German course. They can begin taking the Introduction to Luxembourgish course once they have made significant progress in either French or German.
Provided the pupil has acquired the basic elements of the corresponding skills base at the end of the 2nd or 3rd cycle, they are considered fully integrated into a regular primary education class and can attend the respective classes of the 3rd or 4th cycle. At the end of the 4th cycle of primary education, the pupil completes the guidance process which regulates the passage from primary education to post-primary education.
Specialised welcome classes
In the event of special needs that go beyond what the commune is able to provide for, one or more specialised welcome classes may be created.
Pupils in these classes will receive education in the language(s) of the school, along with developmental and learning curricula. In principle, pupils do not stay in a welcome class for more than one year. They will receive additional support or welcome classes in the following school year if necessary.
At the end of each school trimester, pupils receive an assessment which documents their progress. This supplements the interim assessment, where applicable.
International school offer
Over the years, Luxembourg has developed its international school offer. 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. A complete list of participating schools and their offer is available on the website of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth.
Intercultural mediators
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.
Online services and forms
Online services
Who to contact
Ministry of Education, Children and Youth Department of Primary Education (Service de l'enseignement fondamental)
- Address:
-
33, rives de Clausen
L-2165
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2926 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 85938
- Fax:
- (+352) 247 85123
- Email address:
- info@men.lu
Ministry of Education, Children and Youth School Integration and Welcoming Service (SIA)
- Address:
-
29, rue Aldringen
L-1118
Luxembourg
B.P. L-2926 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 76 570
- Email address:
- secretariat.sia@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
-
Intercultural mediators
on the site of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth
-
Brochure concernant les médiateurs interculturels
sur le site du ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enfance et da la Jeunesse
-
Brochure "Welcome to Luxembourgish schools"
on the website of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth
Legal references
-
Loi modifiée du 6 février 2009
portant organisation de l'enseignement fondamental
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 21 juillet 2006
déterminant les conditions dans lesquelles les demandeurs de protection internationale ont accès à la formation prévue à l'article 14 de la loi du 5 mai 2006 relative au droit d'asile et à des formes complémentaires de protection
