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Luxembourg’s Ministry of Education, Children and Youth has announced that the School Mediation Service (SMS) has just celebrated its fifth anniversary.
Established in 2018 and led by school mediator Lis De Pina, the SMS aims to help students facing potential academic hurdles due to conflicts. The service focuses on preventing school dropouts, with a special emphasis on immigrant students' integration and the inclusion of students with special needs.
Although SMS is affiliated with the ministry, it operates independently. Parents, adult students, or education professionals can seek SMS's assistance when they encounter school-related issues that require a neutral mediator. SMS prioritises amicable conflict resolution, promoting communication and understanding among involved parties.
SMS adopts a mediative approach, with legal authority as a School "Ombudservice" to safeguard students' interests. It can request documents, offer recommendations, and contribute to education system improvements.
Since its inception until 14 September 2023, SMS received 929 complaints, experiencing a consistent increase in their number over the years.
