100 percent of Luxembourgers over age 15 are literate. Luxembourg's education system is highly respected and unusual. Because of the three official languages, the system is formatted trilingually. The first years of primary school are in Luxembourgish, changes to German in secondary school, and then finishes in French. Proficiency in all three languages is required to graduate. A total of 11 years is compulsory.

To facilitate an education, the state provides public schools and offers a generous education allowance (allocation d'éducation) for children aged two to eight. To claim the benefit, an application form should be sent to the CNPF.

Early Childhood Education

Nursery school (education précoce) is available to all children up to the age of four. This optional step in education offers both child care and early learning. Parents receive a letter from the commune of their place of residence informing them of when a child is eligible to start school. Newcomers to Luxembourg should contact their local Municipal office.

From four to six years-of-age, children are ready to begin pre-school (éducation pré-scolaire). Students Enrollment takes place at the education department (Service de l'Enseignement) in the commune of residence. Children must be registered on the citizens's register of the Bureau de Population in order to enroll at a school.
Pre-school is free of charge and are in Luxembourgish. School hours are:
Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 11:45
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 14:00 to 16:00.
Some communes also provide meals at lunchtime.

Primary education continues from age 6 for 6 years. Schedules are usually only Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 til 16:00 with a 2 hour break for lunch. This allows for most kids to eat at home with their family. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, school finishes at noon.

Secondary Education

During the 6th year of education, around the age of 12, a decision must be made whether to continue to classical or technical education for the next 5 years.
Technical Secondary Education: Children not competent in French, German and Luxembourgish take this path. There are initiation classes, with emphasis learning French. From grade 7 onwards, all children are expected to learn the French language to a high level of competency. There are three cycles; the first allows them to learn a trade, the second leads to an aptitude certificate and the last includes technical instruction that prepares them for a university course.
General Education: For students that are competent in both German and French and preparing for a higher education. English is also taught as part of the language syllabus. There are two divisions; a lower and an upper level.
At 15, children are legally allowed to leave school, but most stay on. On the completion of secondary school, students graduate with a Luxembourgish School Leaving Certificate (Diploma).

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The IB program is offered for students, aged 16 to 19, with courses in French or English in Luxembourg. International Baccalaureate is a 2 year educational program that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education. The diploma is widely acknowledged in place of the Luxembourgish School Leaving Certificate. These courses are taught at international schools in Luxembourg as well as:
Athenee de Luxembourg
Tel: (+352) 2604 6116)

Private School

There are not many private schools in Luxembourg besides the select international schools. The few that exist are usually Catholic. Private schools are strictly regulated by the Ministry of Education.

Waldorf School Luxembourg
Private school for all ages and offering the International Baccalaureate. Courses in English, French, German and Luxembourgish.
Address: 45 rue de l'Avenir, L-1147 Luxembourg
Telephone: 46 69 32

University

Because of the country's size and proximity to other fine universities, Luxembourg didn't have its own university system until the opening of the University of Luxembourg in 2003. The University offers Bachelors, Masters Degrees, Doctorates and other special courses. The university is composed of the former University Centre (Centre Universitaire), a technology institute (Institut Superieur de Technologie - IST), an international institute (Institut Universitaire International) and two teacher training institutes (the Institut Supérieur d'Etudes et de Recherches Pedagogiques - ISEEP and the Institut de Formation pour Educateurs et Moniteurs - IFEM).

Library

Bibliotheque municipale Cite
Address: 3, rue Genistre
L-1623 Luxembourg
Telephone : (+352) 4796-2732

Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg (BnL)
Address: 37, Boulevard F.D. Roosevelt
L-2450 Luxembourg
Telephone : (+352) 22 97 55-1