Strapped into their rain jackets, waterproof trousers and wellies, the dozen children currently attending the "forest class" in Beggen are well prepared to brave the wet weather. Next year, however, that option will no longer be available, as the outdoors class at Beggen's local school has been scrapped, to the disappointment of pupils and parents alike.
Families were informed that the class will not run in the new academic year. The programme, in which pupils spend three days a week learning out in the woods, will not be on offer in September 2026, owing to a shortage of registrations needed to qualify for additional staff support from the Ministry of Education. According to the Luxembourg City municipality, a minimum number of enrolments is required to secure the necessary personnel, leaving the affected families disappointed by the decision.
On Wednesday morning, Luxembourg City inaugurated a new trailer at the entrance to the woods on Rue de Marville. The facility is intended for use by both forest classes and standard classes for outdoor activities. Ironically, despite this new resource, no forest class will run in Beggen next year. Eight concerned parents attended the event to discuss the issue with representatives from the capital’s municipal council, including Alderman for Education Paul Galles. Galles acknowledged that the City is also unhappy with the situation, adding that a number of factors, some beyond the council's control, have contributed to the current impasse.
Galles explained that multiple conditions must be satisfied before a forest class can be offered. There must be enough families seeking this option, while the City must also provide a conventional class for children whose parents prefer a traditional approach, in line with their rights. In addition, a teacher with the required specialist qualification is needed, as forest classes operate differently from standard classrooms. For the preschool-age group in question, the Ministry of Education must also assign an educator to assist. This year’s number of enrolled children was insufficient, meaning the City could not obtain the extra support staff needed.
For the upcoming academic year, 19 children have registered for the forest class in Beggen, with one more on a waiting list after missing the deadline. However, this total still falls short of the threshold for additional Ministry resources. By comparison, 23 children were registered for the last school year, which sufficed for a second educator, but it is unclear whether the cut-off is 21, 22, or 23 children, as staff availability also plays a part. Some parents had hoped further late enrolments might tip the balance, but it is now too late to increase numbers.
"We need to avoid playing Tetris with the children, moving them around at the last minute", Galles said. "Unfortunately, it is now too late, as the school structure has already been set." He further noted that the teacher who previously led the forest class is no longer at Beggen, having left after seeing that numbers would not be sufficient, and there is currently no qualified replacement available.
While the explanations are understandable, they have not satisfied all families. Diane Almeida, who had hoped her child could attend the forest class, could not hide her disappointment. "This is not enough for us, but what else can we do?" Almeida remarked. "We were told that teachers could potentially take the children into the forest more often, but that is not what we want. For this year, we have to accept it and perhaps things could change next year."
According to Paul Galles, the City’s goal is to reinstate a forest class in Beggen in the future, provided all necessary criteria are fulfilled. Currently, five or six forest classes operate within the City of Luxembourg, supported by three trailers like the one inaugurated in Beggen. These facilities are in principle available to all classes for outdoor educational activities, regardless of whether they are part of a dedicated forest class.
