Students at Lycée Technique de Lallange in Esch-sur-Alzette were met with surprise when they discovered that only one set of toilets was accessible across the entire school, which hosts approximately 1,600 students.

Concerned parents reached out to RTL to highlight the issue. They reported that students not only had limited access to the toilets near the school reception but also had to sign a register each time they used them.

Cynthia Recht, the headmistress of the school, confirmed the situation and explained that vandalism was behind the drastic measures. Vandalism in the school’s toilets has been a persistent issue for years, she revealed, but recent incidents have escalated significantly.

“Every day, toilets are deliberately clogged, walls are damaged or graffitied, toilet lids are broken, and students smoke inside,” Recht said. She also noted an alarming rise in cases of students deliberately urinating outside the toilet bowls. “Our cleaning staff spends most of their time dealing with this,” she added.

In response, the school decided to keep only the toilets near the reception open – eight for men and four for women. This measure aims to pinpoint the vandals and raise awareness among students about the consequences of such behaviour. Recht stressed that the damage not only disrespects other students and cleaning staff but also incurs significant repair costs.

“We wanted to send a message: ‘This is what happens when we don’t respect shared spaces,’” Recht explained.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions from students. While some expressed frustration, others, equally disturbed by the vandalism, supported the move.

Recht assured that the restrictions are temporary. As of Wednesday, all toilets in the school are set to reopen as usual.