Sylvie MULLER-DECKER

LUXEMBOURG

some facts

LUXEMBOURG

- population: 483.300 of which 205.900 (40%) are

foreigners

- jobs: 358.474 of which 138.716 taken up by non-

resident commuters from France, Belgium and

Germany (January 2009)

- GDP per capita: € 65.700 (2006)

- minimum monthly gross wage: € 1642 (2009)

- unemployment rate: 5.5% (January 2009)

Education in Luxembourg

- education is free unless pupils and students attend private

schools

- compulsory education is 11* years (including Kindergarten) or to

have reached the age of 15*

- nursery education: its purpose is to teach the non-native

speakers

Luxembourgish (1 year, not compulsory)

- Kindergarten: 2 years

- primary school: 6 years * from September 2009: 12 years / 16

Post-Primary Education in Luxembourg

1. secondary education: 7 years - secondary school leaving

diploma

2. technical secondary education: curricula of different lenghts

2.1. 7/8 years - technical secondary school leaving diploma

both diplomas give access to higher and university education

2.2. 7 years - technician’s diploma

gives access to higher technical education

2.3. 2/3 years - various vocational proficiency qualifications

can give access to vocational Master qualifications

Post-Primary Education in Luxembourg

some figures

1. secondary education: 35% of students but only 13%

foreigners

2. technical secondary education: 50% of students and 37%

foreigners

and in the low ability stream of the technical secondary education:

15% of students but 60% foreigners

Higher Education in Luxembourg

The ‘University of Luxembourg’ (created in 2003) is the

successor to various tertiary education institutions

such as the ‘Luxembourg University Centre’, the

‘Higher Institute of Technology’, the ‘Higher Institute

for Educational Studies and Research’ and the

‘Institute for Educational and Social Studies’.

It offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees

in a number of subjects as well as training primary

school teachers.

GUIDANCE IN LUXEMBOURG

• Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Scientific Research

• Ministry of Education and Vocational Training

• Ministry of Labour and Employment

Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Scientific Research

Centre of Documentation and Information

on Higher Studies (CEDIES)

offer: no guidance given, information only

clientele: students (secondary & higher

education)

Ministry of Education and Vocational Training

Centre for Educational Psychology and Guidance (CPOS)

offer: information, guidance, help with educational problems, psychological

consultations

clientele: students (secondary education), parents

Service for Educational Psychology and Guidance (SPOS)

• in every post-primary educational institution

• functional authority lies with the CPOS

• administrative authority lies with the head of school

Service for Educational Psychology and Guidance (SPOS)

• team of psychologist(s), social worker(s), educator(s) and teacher(s)

• can be contacted any time during the school year as well as during some holiday periods

Service for Educational Psychology and Guidance (SPOS)

offer: information, guidance, help with educational problems, help with social

problems, help with psychological problems

clientele: students (post-primary education), parents

Local Action for Youth (ALJ)

offer: guidance, social insertion

clientele: students in secondary technical education (above all middle

and low ability)

staff: educators, teachers

Ministry of Labour and Employment

Centre for Vocational Guidance (OP)

4 sites: Luxembourg-City,Esch-sur-Alzette,

Diekirch, Wiltz

staff: guidance counsellors, educators

Ministry of Labour and Employment

Centre for Vocational Guidance (OP)

offer: information, guidance, placement,

various joint activities with a number of schools and the ALJ

Ministry of Labour and Employment

Centre for Vocational Guidance (OP)

clientele: young people, adults

and finally:

- all these services are free of charge

- there exists good often informal collaboration between the various guidance providers

Thank you for your attention

sylvie.muller@education.lu

contact: