New measures to tackle primary school teacher shortage

New measures are being put in place to tackle the shortage of primary school teachers in Luxembourg.

On Tuesday education minister Claude Meisch and the president of the teachers' union, Syndicat National de Enseignants (SNE-CGFP), Patrick Remakel, signed an agreement which outlines new guidelines for recruiting teachers.

Luxembourg is experiencing a major shortage of primary school teachers, which has led to the Education Ministry calling on more young people to study and pursue a career in elementary education.

Speaking to the Luxembourg Times last year Meisch said one of the main issues was the three-year training period required from newly-qualified teachers.

The new guidelines introduce a shorter training period of two years for those who have completed at least 20 weeks of work experience as part of their course.

To become a teacher, students must undergo a rigorous recruitment evalutaion process, called a 'concours'.

Previously, only students with a Bachelor's degree in education were eligible to apply for the concours but it has now been extended to students who hold a Bachelor linked to primary school subjects.

The extension will apply only if spaces remain after those with a degree in education have been granted a place.

Under the current regulation candidates have to be authorised to teach cyle one and cycle two to four – equivalent to lower and upper primary school – before they can apply for the concours.

But the new measures allow students to apply if they are able to teach one of the two cycles.

Teachers who study in Belgium and who only have one of the two cycle qualifications will be able to take 160 hours of on-the-job training offered by the Institut de Formation de l’Éducation Nationale (IFEN).

The Ministry will also enter into talks with the University of Luxembourg in a bid to increase the number of students they can accept on their teaching courses as well as revise their selection process.

According to the Education Ministry, only a quarter of primary school teachers in the Grand Duchy are trained at Luxembourg university.

A committee has been put in place, consisting of representatives from the Ministry and the Union, to oversee the implementation of the new measures.