© RTL
As the 2024/2025 school year begins, Luxembourg's National School for Adults welcomes more than 620 students, reflecting a significant rise in enrolment since its founding.
When the National School for Adults (ENAD) first opened its doors in 2011, it had just 50 students. Today, as the 2024/2025 academic year begins, more than 620 adults are enrolled, reflecting the growing demand for alternative education paths.
ENAD, formerly known as the School of Second Chance, aims to provide opportunities for individuals who left school early or wish to change careers. The school offers various programmes, including the completion of unfinished degrees or vocational training. According to ENAD Headmistress Melanie Noesen, the school's mission is to help students either re-enter the job market or continue their studies.
The programmes at ENAD range from obtaining a secondary education diploma to vocational training for roles such as educators, where students split their time between on-the-job experience and classroom learning. In addition, ENAD provides courses equivalent to the third, fourth, and fifth years of Luxembourgish secondary education, enabling students to earn certificates that can open doors to further studies or employment.
ENAD currently operates 46 classes across four locations. While three of these sites are in Luxembourg City, the majority of classes are held in the newly built ENAD campus in Esch-Belval. It was at this Belval campus where the new school year commenced on Thursday, with our colleagues from RTL Télé on-site to interview some of the students about their experiences with the traditional education system.
One such student, Bob Wehr, dropped out of secondary school a decade ago, believing at the time that education was not important. Now, he has returned to complete his secondary education in hopes of improving his job prospects.
In contrast, Victor Gabriel Lieser does not regret his decision to leave the Waldorf School he previously attended. After taking a year off, he feels more motivated than ever to pursue his goal of attending university.
Sandy Atkinson also feels she has found the right environment at ENAD. She particularly values the one-on-one support provided by tutors and the personalised education she receives at the school.
Matisse Anselm shares similar praise for the support offered by the teaching staff. After initially training for a career in IT, he decided to change direction and is now in his second year at ENAD, training to become an educator. His schedule involves working three days a week while attending classes at the Belval campus twice a week.
On average, between 70% and 80% of ENAD students successfully complete their studies.
