The international school in Differdange and Esch-sur-Alzette will offer two years of early education in the European schools system and vocational training classes Pexels

The international school in Differdange and Esch-sur-Alzette will offer two years of early education in the European schools system and vocational training classes Pexels

The state-run public school, known as Ecole internationale Differdange et Esch-sur-Alzette, is located in the Victor Hugo building and was approved with 32 votes in favour against three nos (ADR).

It will include:

  • a German-speaking section, which will allow students to be educated in German and to choose English as a second language;
  • two years of early education in the European schools system, which corresponds to the classes of cycle 1 of the Luxembourg basic school. This would facilitate integration into the international school for children who do not speak the language of their section;
  • vocational training classes, an offer that does not yet exist in other international schools in Luxembourg.

The Ecole Internationale de Differdange first opened in September 2016 with English streams in primary and secondary education. At the start of the school year, it counted 36 learners in the English stream, of which 21 were in primary school. The school follows the European school education system with the addition of Luxembourgish classes.

The school was the second state-run (fee-free) international school to open in Luxembourg, after Lycée Michel Lucius and the first to offer English streams at primary. An English primary school opened at Lycée Michel Lucius in September 2017.

Meanwhile, in August, education minister Claude Meisch announced plans to open an English section at the state-run primary and secondary schools in Junglinster, starting September 2018. A German section is also expected to open in Clervaux. The schools will teach the European schools curriculum with the addition of Luxembourgish classes.