The outgoing headmaster of Lycée Josy Barthel in Mamer, Claude Christnach, dismissed allegations against his school administration, labelling them as "unfounded" and "trivial".

After announcing that he would not seek a third term as headmaster of Lycée Josy Barthel in Mamer, Claude Christnach defended his 14-year leadership, describing the school as "a good school."

While the school administration has faced repeated accusations of fostering a toxic work environment, Christnach argued that students, parents, and "the majority of teachers" are satisfied with the school's situation. In July, the Science and Education Union (SEW), part of the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL), publicly raised concerns about "internal failures" and "communication problems" at the school. Investigative news site Reporter.lu later published reports suggesting "mismanagement" and "controlling behaviour" within the administration.

In an interview with our colleagues from RTL.lu, Christnach maintained that he and his team "have nothing to apologise for," characterising the allegations as "unfounded" and "trivial." He argued that the claims were "taken out of context" and "should never have been made public." Christnach revealed that the media coverage had affected him "on a personal level," ultimately influencing his decision not to pursue another term as headmaster.

"Unresolved issues" remain

Christnach, who will continue to serve as headmaster until 31 December, acknowledged that challenges such as digitalisation represent significant changes for the education sector. However, he insisted that the majority of teachers at Lycée Josy Barthel enjoy their work. He dismissed a survey conducted by SEW/OGBL, which indicated that 89% of the school's teachers experience a "tense" or "very tense" work environment, noting that less than half of the teachers participated in the poll. Despite this, Christnach said the administration has taken steps to improve communication.

When asked about a specific incident reported by Reporter.lu, in which he allegedly ordered a staff member to report critical comments made by teachers, Christnach declined to comment on "proceedings that are still ongoing." He also did not elaborate on whether he is considering legal action regarding the allegations. Christnach simply stated that there are "various matters that certainly haven't been resolved yet," suggesting that it could take "several months" to reach a conclusion.