Changes in the law were passed on Thursday afternoon in the Chamber of Deputies: from September onwards (i.e.: back-to-school season), revisions of the length and content of training periods will come into force. The aim of these adjustments is to help educators focus on the fundamentals of their work.
This means that work placements at secondary schools will last 2 years instead of 3, and primary school placements will take 1 year. The content of these traineeships is to see changes too, as Gilles Baum, the one who drafted the law, explains.
In terms of primary school training, the legislative part remains as the only certifying test, with all others becoming part of formative training. The final traineeship report or thesis is to be removed.
The thesis will also no longer be necessary for secondary school teachers. However, Martine Hansen of the Christian Social People's Party still sees some injustice for "candidats sursitaires" – trainees that had not finished their theses within the given 18 months (roughly 600) and had to continue working, albeit under reduced pay:
According to Hansen, these individuals are now at a significant professional disadvantage. Thus, they expect the Government to find a solution before the beginning of the academic year in respect of the leave of absences they would have registered for a thesis that is now no longer necessary.
A new kind of “in depth training period” is also to be introduced. This includes a number of courses that young educators will undertake with the support of an academic advisor so as to consolidate professional competences.
Final remarks
Chamber president Fernand Etgen confirmed that the official return of parliament on the 2nd Tuesday of October, the same day Xavier Bettel is to comment on the state of the Grand Duchy. The country’s “first citizen” will also deliver the reports for the 2018/2019 parliamentary session at the beginning of October.
Even though Friday saw the last public Chamber meeting, this does mean our deputies can start their summer holidays: a number of committee meetings are to take place next week, the last one on the 24 July.
