Private schools growing in popularity in Luxembourg

The number of young people in Luxembourg studying at private schools has grown by nearly 50 percent during the last six years.

According to figures released by Luxembourg's Education Ministry, 10,639 learners were expected to attend classes at private schools, either in Luxembourg or abroad this autumn term, up from 7,145 in 2007.

Registrations at private schools offering teaching in English echoed this rise, with St George's International School in Hamm seeing its intake more than double since 2007, from 294 pupils to 684 in September 2013.

Meanwhile, the International School of Luxembourg, which this year celebrated its 50th anniversary and recently opened a new lower school building, saw its intake rise by nearly half, up from 820 in 2007 to 1,194 in 2013.

Overall, the report shows that this year marks the lowest intake at primary and pre-school level seen for the last three years with 46,388 young learners due to begin school this autumn term.

Take up for adult education appears to have experienced a boon during the last six years. The new autumn term saw 20,100 people signing up for adult training, rising by more than half from the 12,316 people registered in 2007. Registrations at language school the “Institut National des Langues”, meanwhile, rose to 10,450 this year.