Luxembourg is rolling out its multilingual school project to guarantee greater success for children from linguistically diverse backgrounds.
For several years now, numerous studies have been revealing a worrying fact: pupils who speak neither Lëtzebuergesch nor German at home experience greater difficulties at school from an early age. This now affects two thirds of the country’s pupils. To remedy this imbalance, the Ministry of Education launched the ‘ALPHA – zesumme wuessen’ pilot project, which has now been validated and is ready to be rolled out to all basic schools from the start of the 2026/2027 school year.
What is the ‘ALPHA – zesumme wuessen’ project?
Implemented since 2022 in four pilot schools (in Differdange, Dudelange, Larochette and Schifflange), ALPHA offers a major innovation: allowing families to choose their child’s literacy language, between German and French.
144 children were taught to read and write in the language closest to their family environment, while continuing to learn the country’s three official languages (Lëtzebuergesch, German and French).
Objective: greater equity in education
The approach aims to break down language barriers by giving each child a solid grounding in the language with which they are most comfortable. The project also reinforces the use of Lëtzebuergesch as a language of integration and socialisation, without excluding other languages from the school curriculum.
Positive scientific evaluation: concrete results
On 11 July 2025, Claude Meisch, Minister for Education, presented the results of the evaluation of the project, carried out with the support of LUCET / Université du Luxembourg, the Scientific Council, teaching teams and families.
Key points of the assessment :
✅ Better performance at school when the child is literate in a familiar language.
✅ Increased motivation and well-being in the classroom.
✅ Increased student participation in class.
✅ Strengthening the role of Lëtzebuergësch in the education system.
✅ High level of satisfaction among parents and improved collaboration with teachers.
All those involved – teachers, parents, scientists – recommend that the ALPHA project be extended to all schools.
Gradual roll-out from 2026
In view of the positive results, the government has approved a draft bill to extend ALPHA – zesumme wuessen to all basic schools in the country:
📅 Start: start of school year 2026/2027 (cycle 1.2)
➡️ Gradual extension to subsequent cycles until 2032/2033.
ALPHA in practice: one class, two languages
The example of Leni and Andrea in Larochette illustrates the project perfectly: in the same class, Leni learns to read in German, Andrea in French. And yet, both are progressing together, with the same chances of success.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
➡️ Do pupils who are literate in French still learn German?
Yes, trilingualism remains central. All children continue to learn Luxembourgish, German and French.
➡️ Is Luxembourgish still important?
Absolutely. It remains a language of socialisation, integration and teaching in many disciplines.
➡️ Is there a minimum number of students required to create an ALPHA group?
No. Even a single student has the right to literacy adapted to his or her linguistic profile.
Conclusion: a turning point for schools in Luxembourg
The ALPHA – zesumme wuessen project marks a significant step towards a more inclusive, equitable and modern school system in Luxembourg. By taking into account the linguistic realities of families, the country is offering every child the best chance of success, from the earliest years.
