Claude Meisch, Luxembourg Minister for National Education, Children and Youth;
Credit: MENJE
Luxembourg’s Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth has reported that the second National Forum on Democracy and Citizenship was held at Forum Geesseknäppchen in Luxembourg-Hollerich on Wednesday 13 May 2026, in the presence of Luxembourg’s Minister for National Education, Children and Youth, Claude Meisch.
According to the ministry, the National Forum is part of the continuation of initiatives carried out since 2021 to strengthen democratic culture and student participation in secondary schools, and the 2026 event brought together representatives of student committees, young ambassadors engaged in secondary schools and adult mentors.
Organised by the Centre psycho-social et d’accompagnement scolaires (CePAS), in collaboration with the Conférence nationale des élèves du Luxembourg (CNEL) and the Zentrum fir politesch Bildung (ZpB), the event follows the introduction of the Week of Democracy and Citizenship, the establishment of a national reference framework for student participation and the strengthening of the role of student committees within Luxembourg’s legal framework.
Valuing Young People’s Engagement
The ministry said the second edition of the Forum aimed to highlight all forms of young people’s engagement within secondary schools and to strengthen dialogue between students and adults on issues relating to participation, citizenship and student wellbeing.
The programme included intergenerational exchanges, participatory workshops and presentations of projects showcasing inspiring practices developed in various schools.
The Forum notably reaffirmed that student participation is a fundamental right and an essential lever for building a more inclusive, participatory school environment attentive to young people’s wellbeing.
Strengthening Participation in Secondary Schools
Beyond discussions, the Forum helped identify concrete ways to further develop strong alliances between young people and adults within school communities. Partners reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening participatory democracy in secondary schools and to fully recognising students as actors and partners in school life.
The work carried out within the Forum will feed into future actions by CePAS, CNEL, ZpB and the ministry in order to continue developing open and participatory schools that foster young people’s civic engagement.
