Discussion on the preschool education system in Luxembourg: quality or accessibility?
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The issue of the organisation of childcare facilities in Luxembourg remains in the spotlight. Despite the introduction of free services, the system faces criticism. The FGFC syndicate of civil servants points out a number of problems related to the dominance of private structures, which, according to the syndicate, jeopardise equality and the quality of education.
While the introduction of the free system has been hailed as a progressive step, the FGFC claims that in practice the goal of affordable and quality education has not been achieved everywhere. The main claims are:
- Hidden costs for parents.
- Different levels of service quality between institutions, especially in private structures.
- Fragmentation of the system where pedagogical approaches and working conditions vary widely.
Profit-driven private structures lead to unequal distribution of resources and pedagogical standards. Institutions with less financial resources place children in less favourable conditions, thus undermining equality of opportunity.
The FGFC insists that childcare facilities should be the mission of the public sector. The syndicate proposes to devolve more powers to the state and municipalities in order to:
- Guarantee uniform pedagogical standards.
- Increase funding to support small groups.
- Establish equal working conditions for educators.
FGFC proposes to create a national programme that will provide:
- Maintaining linguistic and cultural diversity.
- Educator training programmes with a practical focus.
- Mandatory small groups for a personalised approach.
- Controlled group sizes and clear norms.
"Childcare centres should not just be a convenience for working parents, but a place of quality education and support for children," the syndicate emphasises.
The FGFC believes that abandoning privatisation and strengthening the state's role will allow the system to be adapted to modern requirements. Only such a model, according to the union, can guarantee equal chances and high quality education for all children.
