The private school’s move, which runs counter to the education ministry’s strategy, echoes pressure within the country for public schools to remain closed until the end of the academic year. An online petition proposing just that attracted over 6,000 signatures in the first three days it was online.

In a statement issued by school principal Christian Barkei on Wednesday, St George’s wrote it was particularly challenging for younger children because “they learn through play, freely moving around the classroom. Enforcing the wearing of masks in other situations is difficult and distressing for children aged 3 or 4. Children wish to be close to their classmates and their teacher and they are too young to understand personal space.”

Dr Barkei said staff would continue to send online projects and play concepts for this young group to continue learning.

The remainder of the primary school will reopen on 25 May, at the same time as public schools. Similar to the government strategy, classes will be split in two with a maximum of ten students.

The secondary school will reopen on 18 May, as opposed to the government’s 11 May strategy. Students in years 11, 12 and 13 will continue remote working for the rest of the school year. Exams will be replaced with a teacher prepared submission to examination boards. Year 13 graduation ceremonies have also been cancelled.

The International School of Luxembourg has announced the reopening of its upper school for 11 May. It is conducting a parent survey on home schooling.

The country’s two European Schools have cancelled written and oral exams for the remainder of the 2020 academic year. When contacted by Delano last week, no decision had been made on the reopening of the schools.