Answering a parliamentary question by CSV deputy Martine Hansen, education minister Claude Meisch (DP) on 25 April revealed that a considerable number of classes were covered by teaching assistants and substitutes. While in secondary schools, this amounts to 28.9% of all hours, the proportion increases to 57.26% in continuous learning courses, to 80.1% at the national institute for language and to 85% in adult education. For technical courses, substitutes make up over one in four (26.1%) hours.

Substitutes--known as “chargé d’études” in the grand duchy--are hired either permanently or for a set period of time to make up for a shortage of qualified teaching staff. Applicants for the position must have obtained a master’s or bachelor’s degree and carry a European passport. Chargés are tested on their proficiency in the country’s three languages--French, German and Luxembourgish.

While they are not considered qualified teaching staff, substitutes must also attend a training programme throughout their first years of service.

Luxembourg schools have been struggling with staff shortages, an issue that became . In January 2022, it was reported that around 15% of teaching staff were off sick. Hired substitute teachers had seen their contracts extended until at least April.

, the ministry of education also published a draft law relaxing the hiring criteria for teaching staff, as Ukrainian refugee children have reached Luxembourg. Nearly 11,000 teachers currently work in Luxembourg, including 4,500 at secondary level and 6,300 at primary school level.

Meisch in his parliamentary answer also revealed that, at the secondary education level, 364 substitutes were eligible to become public servants, having worked for the government for more than 15 years. 33 were eligible at the national language institute, 29 in professional training and 22 in adult teaching.

Delano contacted the ministry of education for comment.