Minister of Education Claude Meisch informed the Parliamentary Education Committee that recent newspaper articles and public discussions were negatively affecting the image of Lycée Josy Barthel in Mamer.

The school's troubled atmosphere was discussed during Thursday's committee meeting, prompted by the Green Party (déi gréng). MP Djuna Bernard sought clarification on various criticisms reported in the media, including allegations of poor communication, a toxic atmosphere, cancelled school trips, and unpaid bills.

Minister Meisch cautioned that making all accusations public could harm the school's reputation and adversely affect the students. However, the Ministry acknowledged the existing issues at the school.

Staff at Lycée Josy Barthel have expressed feelings of inadequate support by the school management. Minister Meisch emphasised that the Ministry remains accessible and ready to intervene if necessary, including disciplinary actions when required. "Our door is always open, and we have taken action when necessary in the past," Meisch assured.

Introduction of a complaints management commission

The Ministry became aware of the issues at Lycée Josy Barthel in late 2023 and has been actively involved since then. In collaboration with the Science and Education Union (SEW), it has been agreed to establish a complaints management commission at the start of the new school year.

If the commission's efforts are insufficient, the Ministry may consider reintroducing social coaching, which has been implemented previously. These steps underscore the seriousness with which the Ministry is addressing the situation, Meisch argued.

Djuna Bernard enquired about the composition of the complaints management commission but did not receive a specific answer. Meisch expressed hope for a return to a climate where open communication and trust can be restored among all parties.

The school management, which has faced significant criticism, will undergo reorganisation, as announced by Minister Meisch. This restructuring will involve executive assistants and deputy headmasters, though no mention was made of the headmaster during the committee meeting.

"At this stage, an audit is not envisaged," Minister Meisch responded to a question from MP Alex Donnersbach of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV). However, Meisch assured that if there are indications that disciplinary measures are necessary, they will be taken.

€400 invoice that "fell through the cracks"

The ministry's adviser, Alex Folscheid, addressed additional questions from MP Djuna Bernard. "It's a bit peculiar that we have to discuss a school trip or an unpaid bill here," Folscheid commented.

He recalled that the day after Iran attacked Israel with missiles and drones, the Mamer secondary school asked the ministry if a planned school trip to Egypt could proceed the following day. "We told the Mamer secondary school that we advised them against making the trip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also issued a travel warning," Folscheid explained. It is worth noting that the travel warning issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs applied to Iran, Israel, and Lebanon, but not explicitly to Egypt.

According to the Ministry, all parents have been reimbursed. However, it was acknowledged that there needs to be clarity within the school about how the cancellation was communicated and what went wrong.

An article by the online news site Reporter.lu mentioned a visit by a bailiff to the school's secretariat due to unpaid bills amounting to €400. During the parliamentary committee meeting, it was explained that this bill, related to vocational training, "fell between the cracks".

The ministry's adviser was surprised that it took less than an hour and a half after the bailiff's visit for the ministry to receive questions from the press. He saw this as another indication of the ongoing issues at the school.

The Ministry of Education intends to assess the situation by the end of the year to determine whether the implemented measures have been effective.