According to a statement published by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth on Monday, a number of amendments that take into account the opinion of the State Council were adopted during the last government council.
The main objective of extending the duration of compulsory education is to reduce the rate of pupils leaving the school system without any diploma and thus fight youth unemployment. On average, nearly 600 minors drop out of the school system without a diploma each year. The vast majority of them, 88%, then find themselves without a profession or perspective.
The legal text, first announced in 2021, has since been the subject of much criticism. It now contains two main innovations: the abolition of criminal proceedings in the event of non-compliance with compulsory schooling and the creation of an exemption from compulsory schooling for minors of at least 16 years of age who want to work, that for the duration of their employment contract.
The proposed extension of compulsory schooling was mainly criticised by social partners, in particular the Luxembourg Employers’ Association (UEL) and the Chamber of Employees (CSL), who question that the change will bring about the desired effect.
