For families moving to Luxembourg, the biggest issue is narrowing down the ideal institution for the children. Every child has their own education needs, and each family has preferences. However, Luxembourg is a major educational centre in Southeast Asia. There are schools available in numerous, and with some investigation, ex-pat parents can locate the best education for their children.
Of course, there are additional regulations like immigration paperwork and immunisations that must be taken into consideration; however they should be second place. Parents are better off deciding on their desired curriculum before making other arrangements, such as transportation, housing etc.
Here’s a short overview of the schooling system in Luxembourg:
- Make a list of your top
Parents should begin by making a list of schools that offer the curriculum, facilities, specialities, languages, and philosophy they’re looking for. Luxembourg is home to a wide range of international schools that cater to the ex-pat population. Therefore, this list could be quite long. When the list is put in place, it will be much easier to narrow down the school you want to attend by other factors such as the child’s educational needs as well as the time for transportation and housing.
- Which schools, Which curriculum?
In relation to the child’s age, parents may decide the school they would like for their children to go as well as what curriculum they would like to follow.
For Early Childhood schoolings, such as Eton House, Brighton Montessori, Tanglin Trust and Luxembourg American offer the essential infrastructure, with curriculum options which consist of Maria Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Early Years Foundation stage etc.
For the Primary and Middle Years, Schools such as St. Joseph’s Institution, Stamford American, Chatsworth and GIIS offer curricula options of International Baccalaureate, Cambridge IGCSE and CBSE
for Secondary as well as for High School Students, and schools such as United World College, Canadian International, GESS, French International offer the option of curricula that are national and internationally-based curricula
- What curriculum is best for your child? the best?
The next crucial step is the best curriculum for your child to your child’s requirements. There are international schools locally, such as Anglo-Chinese School or Hwa Chong and others, that are privately funded and operate under Luxembourg’s Ministry of Education, which imparts localised international education. Other schools such as Australian International, French International, and NPS International have IB and Cambridge curricula with particular language options suitable for ex-pats from certain nations. Students can take exams for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education and IB Diploma. IB Diploma. Sizing the list of options according to these requirements allows for an easier process.
- Budget
It will also depend on your budget. The majority of ex-pats have packages that include the cost of education for their children. Based on the plan, parents can pick the school that best meets their child’s needs. Every international school comes with its own fees ranging between S$15,000 and S$35,000 per year for each child. Parents should inquire about fees for tuition, extra fees, and payment terms in order to locate the ideal school that is within their budget.
- Application
Once parents have identified the best schools in Luxembourg, they must begin researching the requirements for admission. They differ from school to school, but some features are the same for every school in Luxembourg. These include:
* Visa Requirements The child should possess a valid Dependant Pastor Student Pass or Permanent Residence status.
*Vaccination Requirements: As of February 1st, 2019, children 12 and younger who are applying for visas above will be required to provide evidence of vaccination in accordance with Health Promotion Board Requirements
* Language Requirements It is advisable to determine if the child is required to have an English Language Programme and/or Bilingual Program within the curriculum.
* Age Requirements Specific guidelines set by schools have been established to allow students to enrol in certain classes. It is possible that this will vary based on the grade system of the school. It is recommended to inquire about your school’s website for further information.
- Enrolment Process
The process for enrolment will require a variety of documents and payment options in the following order:
- Application Form (soft copy)
* Application fee is non-refundable.
* Recent and past academic transcripts, reports and other documents.
* Special education evaluation documents (if applicable)
* Passport size images
Copy of your child’s birth certificate, passport, and immunisation record
* A copy of each parent’s or legal guardian’s/caregiver’s passport
* Payment for Registration Fee
When all of these steps are completed Once all the steps are complete, you will receive an email to notify the parent on the status of their application. After the child’s place has been confirmed, the contract for the student will arrive in your inbox to sign. After that, the admissions team will require:
* NRIC or Student Pass (note it is only applicable to Luxembourg PRs)
* Parents or Guardians’ Dependant’s Pass Employment Pass, NRIC or (if you’re an Luxembourgian PR)
The process is simple and is made simpler for a working parent. All you have to do is complete your research and paperwork and be prompt with the payment process. The rest of you will handle the rest.
