The right to education

Article 23 of the Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg guarantees a fundamental right to education. The State provides public primary and secondary education free of charge. Access to primary education has to be granted to every person living in Luxembourg.

The law on compulsory schooling (loi du 20 juillet 2023 relative à l'obligation scolaire) specifies that all children living in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are entitled to receive school education from their age of 3 years.

The Constitution further states that each person is free to pursue higher education in Luxembourg or abroad, at the university of their choice, except for the conditions of admission to certain professions.

The conditions of provision and the supervision of public education are determined by the laws governing the different types of education.

Compulsory schooling

Early childhood education is optional for children aged 3-years, but if they are enrolled, the parents have to ensure their children’s regular attendance.

School attendance is compulsory from the age of 4 years until 16. The provisions of the new law of July 2023 regarding the extension of compulsory schooling from age 16 to 18 will not take effect until the start of the 2026 school year. This law is an important part of the strategy to tackle early school leaving and youth unemployment.

Compulsory school attendance thus extends over 12 consecutive years. It can be fulfilled by attending a public, private or international school in Luxembourg. Pupils may also attend school in a foreign country.

Under certain conditions, children may be educated at home.

Children with special educational needs are integrated, as far as possible, into mainstream education. They may also comply with the obligation of compulsory schooling by attending special education classes (éducation différenciée) (see 12.2 Separate Special Education Needs Provision).

Learners aged 15 engaged in an apprenticeship comply with their compulsory schooling by attending the vocational classes of the dual apprenticeship system (formation en alternance).

As soon as a child reaches the compulsory school age (specifically, attains the age of 4 years before 1 September of the current year), the mayor informs the parents on compulsory school attendance and automatically admits the pupil to an elementary school (école fondamentale) near their place of residence.

Parents must ensure that their children regularly attend school and take part in class and school activities. When a pupil has successfully completed primary education, the parents have the responsibility to enrol them in a secondary school (lycée) according to the guidance decision established at the end of elementary education (see 12.4 Guidance and Counselling).

Aims and objectives of national education policy

The aims and objectives of the current government, as set out by the government programme for the period 2023-2028, focuses on the following central issues of educational policy:

• Equal starting opportunities for all
• Quality education with modern curricula and content
• Development of every child's individual capacities

• Enhance vocational training

• Promote well-being.

Eurydice chapter 14 describes recent policy developments and ongoing reforms in Luxembourg.