Over four days, from 19 to 22 April, the School Fair is taking place at LuxExpo The Box.
It is the largest event in Luxembourg dedicated to educational and career guidance. For four days, the fair aims to help pupils explore their future paths and gain a clearer idea of their options.
After opening to the general public on Sunday, the fair was reserved on Monday for primary and secondary school pupils.
Around 14,000 students have registered for the event. With more than 45 secondary schools, over 150 training pathways, and nine thematic areas spread across three halls covering more than 17,000 square metres, the fair offers a broad overview of education and career opportunities in Luxembourg.
Each year, organisers aim to introduce new elements, as Education Minister Claude Meisch explained, highlighting, among other things, new French-language classes at Year 7 (lower secondary level), the return of LuxSkills, and a campaign focusing on artificial intelligence and its limits.
Beyond providing information and opportunities to speak with schools and professionals, the fair also places strong emphasis on interactive experiences. Workshops allow students to explore different professions in a hands-on way, as School Fair coordinator Martine Molitor pointed out, stressing that trying things out is often more effective than simply reading about them.
She explained that many pupils at this stage are asking themselves which secondary school they should attend and what job they might want to do later on. To help answer those questions, she said the fair features nine different “career worlds”, where students can try out activities for themselves.
Despite the wide range of options, choosing a path remains a challenge. Many young people are still deciding between pursuing higher education or starting an apprenticeship. While some already have clear plans, others are still exploring their options.
For teachers, the fair is also a valuable opportunity to give students a concrete insight into their future choices. For Kelly Zimmermann, a Cycle 4 teacher, attending the event has become a tradition, as she has been bringing her class for five consecutive years.
She said that while students often hear about different secondary schools and future plans in class, the fair finally gives them a concrete picture of what they could do. At the fair, they can ask schools specific questions, meet people who work in those professions, see other students, and take part in the various workshops, Zimmermann said.
As part of the School Fair, an Apprenticeship Day is also being held on Tuesday at Luxexpo. This initiative brings together companies looking for apprentices and young people seeking training positions, with the aim of facilitating their transition from school to working life.
