The reform was passed with a broad majority, as MPs welcomed the prospect to give parents and children the choice to learn in either German or french following lengthy and intensive debates in parliament.
Notably, four of the seven MPs who spoke during the final vote had grown up in households where neither Luxembourgish, let alone German, was spoken.
The Christian Social Peopel’s Party (CSV) MP Ricardo Marques stated: “I did my homework alone, I studied for my exams alone – not because I wanted to, but because my parents don’t speak or understand German. Most of my Lusophone [Portuguese speaking] classmates where directed towards technique. not because they were less intelligent, but because they were taught in a language in which they didn’t feel comfortable.”
MPs david Wagner, Meris Sehovic and Barbara Agostino shared similar experiences growing up, affirming that literacy in French would be of benefit to many children.
Democratic Party (DP) MP Agostino, rapporteur of the bill, explained: “This reform will give every child a good start to their school career.”
While the luxembourg Socialist Workers’ party (LSAP) ultimately supported the bill, MP Francine Closener voiced serious doubts about its implementation, citing Goethe’s faust: “two souls, alas! Dwell in my breast.” She questioned why the views of unions and school staff had been ignored: “Why conduct a pilot project if no one even waits to see its results? Why is no one listening to (municipal union) Syvicol?”
Her concerns were echoed by the Pirate Party’s Marc Goergen, who even went as far as abstaining altogether from the vote. He said: “The project is simply not ready. It’s well-intentioned but poorly executed.”
While The Greens MP Meris Sehovic hoped that the literacy choice would promote equal opportunities,MP Fred Keup of the Choice Democratic Reform Party (ADR) strongly opposed the reform: “If French becomes the sole criterion,and Luxembourgish and German are no longer valued,then native Luxembourgers,especially those who struggle with French,are the ones who lose out in society. This system cements discrimination. We are firmly against it.”
The Left MP David Wagner rejected the right-wing MP’s claims.In his opinion, the reform creates winners without creating losers, as literacy in German remains an option: “You [Fred Keup] are misleading people, including your own voters, just to score political points for the next election. You are doing so at the expense of children’s futures. I hope you reflect on the needs of children who do not come from the same socio-linguistic background as you do.”
Wagner’s remarks received rousing support from many MPs.
At the end of the heated debate, Education Minister Claude meisch confirmed that yearly evaluations would be conducted with teachers and municipalities. He continued that French literacy is only one lever for improving equality of opportunity, and that gaps of socio-economic disparities must be closed.
Implementation begins in September as schools start again. The reform will first affect children in cycle 1 (formerly known as preschool),who will be guided through their language choices. In the 2027-2028 school year, the first pupils across the country will begin learning to read and write in French, provided their parents end up choosing that model.
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