Trade unions demand zero tolerance policy towards violence in schools

The number of cases of violence in Luxembourg schools remains consistently high, but the state still does not keep systematic statistics on such incidents. This became known from the response to a parliamentary question from MP Francine Closener (LSAP). Last academic year, 312 expulsion decisions were made, but it is not clear how many of these were related to violent behaviour.

The practice of overturning disciplinary decisions is a cause for further concern. In the current academic year, half of the expulsions challenged before the appeals committee (Commission de recours) were overturned. A year earlier, this figure was 22.7%, and in the 2023/24 academic year, it was 40.9%. According to the SEW/OGBL education workers' union, there have been cases where expulsions for violent acts, approved by the school disciplinary council (Conseil de discipline), were subsequently overturned by the ministry's commission.

The union believes that this practice creates the impression that protecting perpetrators takes priority over protecting victims, especially when the accused resort to legal counsel. According to SEW/OGBL, the state must make it clear that violence in schools is unacceptable and that the safety of victims is an absolute priority.

Among the union's key demands are the introduction of mandatory and systematic recording of all forms of violence, including physical, psychological and sexual, as well as the creation of an analogue and digital system for students and staff to file complaints. It is proposed to provide targeted support to teachers who have been victims of aggression and to develop clear response protocols for schools.

In addition, SEW/OGBL advocates for the formation of a crisis team in every educational institution, the expansion of programmes for the development of social skills and non-violent conflict resolution, and the creation of an independent structure in every secondary school to receive and investigate complaints from victims, including the possibility of initiating legal proceedings.

Special attention is paid to measures against offenders: compulsory anti-violence training outside school hours, the possibility of temporary education in a specialised centre for students who systematically display aggression, as well as the physical separation of the victim and the aggressor until a final decision is made by the disciplinary authorities.