For weeks, teaching unions severely criticised the education ministry for exhausting public schools in the grand duchy.

One of the main points of criticism addressed the severe lack of teachers and the consequent cancelling of tutoring lessons.

On 26 September, Meisch reacted with a press release in which he confirmed the shortage of school staff. Between March 2016 and July 2017, an increase of 844 pupils was recorded, generating 700 more lessons.

To respond to the sharp increase in lessons, a total of 291 positions needed to be filled. However, only 168 candidates passed their qualification, of which 91 were qualified university graduates. The other 77 were “chargés de cours” (a kind of substitute teacher status, paying less than a certified teacher salary) that still needed to complete their qualification.

As a result, the ministry is calling for replacement teachers. In the press statement, Meisch urged teachers to work extra hours, and encouraged retired teachers to help out and even social workers with a bachelor degree to step in as supply teachers.

The ministry placed a new job advert for replacement teachers, which consists of a four-week training to educate more “chargés de cours”. According to the press release, 160 candidates are currently following the replacement teacher training.