More options in French for Luxembourg's secondary students

Luxembourg's secondary-school students will have more options for studying in French across the country's technical high schools from September onwards.

Education minister Claude Meisch announced reforms to the 'general secondary school system' – formerly known as technical high schools – that will come into effect from the beginning of the next school year.

One of the major changes is that French will be offered on two levels – in basic and, within sections where German is the main language, advanced classes.

This will apply to pupils in 4ème and 3ème (16-17 years old) in all sections except administration and commercial sections, where French will be taught only in advanced classes.

The possibility of being taught through French will be developed across all sections.

Meisch said the reform would increase choices for students who faced difficulties in the education system due to a lack of linguistic skills in French or German.

New sections 

He also announced the opening of three new sections – an environmental sciences section at the Lycée technique d'Ettelbruck available from September; architecture, design and sustainable development at Lycée Josy Barthel in Mamer; and hospitality management at the Lycée technique hôtelier Alexis Heck, which will become the Ecole d’hôtellerie et de tourisme du Luxembourg.

Further developments will also be carried out in existing sections.

Several secondary schools will offer social sciences from 4ème, and health science will be offered from 2ème – a year earlier than now available.

From 2019, the number of written exams will be reduced to six, and students will undergo two oral exams, one in a language and the other in a specialised subject of the chosen section.

Meisch said this would give students the "opportunity to better focus on the written exam and aim for good grades".

The end of school certificate will also list all subjects passed in 1ère and 2ème to enable pupils to show a range of skills and knowledge when applying to a university or college, or for a job.