Significant student protests have recently erupted in France, with young people demanding increased investment in education. Their calls centre on more teaching staff, smaller class sizes, improved school facilities, and a fairer education system that does not exacerbate existing inequalities.
The movement has since spread to Belgium, where teachers, university students, and parent associations have joined in solidarity.
Now, a flyer urging school strikes in Luxembourg is circulating on social media. Written in French, the flyer is vague: it mentions only "Friday", omits a date, and provides no specific school.
Furthermore, the suggested strike hours, from 10am to 4pm, do not correspond with actual secondary school timetables in Luxembourg.
The flyer's author is unknown and its legitimacy is in question. Some RTL journalists saw the flyer being shared as early as last week, but it remains unclear which Friday is being referenced.
The National Union of Students in Luxembourg (UNEL) says it is not aware of who is behind the flyer and doubts any organised group is involved. General secretary Angelo Locatelli confirmed UNEL had seen the flyer and had communicated with the National Student Conference (CNEL), which was equally in the dark.
According to UNEL, the call is likely to be little more than a case of misinformation or "fake news".
RTL visited Geesseknäppchen campus to ask students directly whether they would participate in a strike if one were to be organised.
With the exception of one student, none of those interviewed expressed willingness to join a protest.
One student from the École de Commerce et de Gestion (ECG) highlighted that the situation in Luxembourg does not compare to that in France: class sizes are smaller, school days are shorter, and students receive generous benefits, such as iPads. Two students pointed out that even canteen meals are reasonably priced, so they see no reason to protest.
While some students had heard about the flyer circulating online, they said it was not to be taken seriously. This was the overwhelming sentiment among those surveyed at Geesseknäppchen.
Earlier this week, UNEL publicly expressed solidarity with the student movement in France.
Angelo Locatelli himself took part in the protests in Strasbourg, having recently studied there. He told RTL that he experienced that education system at university and knows first-hand what problems exist, adding that the French protests are "definitely legitimate".
Luxembourg students at Geesseknäppchen also voiced support for their French peers and their demands. They singled out the long school days in France, from 8am to 6pm, as unacceptable.
The problems, including dilapidated buildings and a shortage of teachers, have been known for years, and young people say authorities have failed to act.
However, Locatelli cautioned against using the hardships faced by students in neighbouring France as a pretext for protest in Luxembourg, contending that while there are certainly issues worth discussing here, chronic underfunding of the school system is not one of them.
