Secondary Schools to Improve Privacy in Toilets, Changing Rooms

On Monday 9 February 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Education, Children and Youth announced the development of a new privacy concept for sanitary facilities (toilets) and changing rooms in secondary schools.

The new concept, developed in collaboration with Luxembourg’s Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, aims to better support the fundamental needs for privacy and safety of all students and to help ensure respect for their dignity.

According to the ministry, sanitary facilities and changing rooms in secondary schools represent particularly sensitive areas, where incidents of violence, harassment and lack of respect for students’ privacy may occur. The ministry also highlighted specific challenges facing transgender, non-binary and questioning students, as well as the need to better address their needs.

This development plan is inspired by an architectural principle, which is already “successfully” used in several countries, notably in the United States (US) and in Nordic countries. Studies carried out in schools that have adopted this model show an improvement in the feeling of safety, along with lower levels of harassment and vandalism.

The ministry noted that sanitary facilities rank among the areas most exposed to risks of harassment and violence between pupils. Their limited visibility from the outside, little adult supervision and enclosed spaces accessed through a single door create conditions that may encourage problematic behaviour. Such incidents reinforce the feeling of insecurity and can affect the well-being of all pupils, as well as the school climate as a whole.

The model promotes placement in frequently used and well-lit areas, clearly visible access without hidden corners and a semi-transparent partition between washbasins and the corridor. The sanitary space leading to individual toilets will remain accessible without passing through a door, allowing better monitoring so incidents do not go unnoticed.

The expected effects include a reduction in harassment incidents, a decrease in time spent in sanitary spaces and a stronger feeling of safety and protection. The approach also aims to reduce acts of vandalism and improve hygiene.

The ministry also underlined that during adolescence, young people experience major physical and psychological changes that increase their need for privacy and personal space. Traditional toilet cubicles remain open at floor and ceiling level, which limits privacy and may encourage intrusive or inappropriate behaviour. Separate collective changing rooms for girls and boys may also make some students feel uncomfortable as they would like more private space to change away from the gaze of their classmates.