Access to the “carrière ouverte”: Teaching staff at a disadvantage in the civil service

It is very gratifying when society emphasizes the importance of the teaching profession, with all its daily demands and efforts. For example, (Education) Minister Claude Meisch emphasizes on social media: “Teaching is more than a job. It is a profession in which you face new challenges every day. It is a profession of commitment and heart. A profession that has shaped our generation and will inspire future generations.”

A profession, according to Minister Meisch, in which one faces new challenges every day, where a new challenge is also to achieve equal rights and to be treated equally as in other public administrations.

This is where Education Minister Claude Meisch and Civil Service Minister Marc Hansen disagree. The two ministries work independently of each other and are separate in their areas of activity, but there is one link: the staff. The staff is under the authority of the Ministry of Civil Service, as stated in the Civil Service Act. In the same law (A59 of March 31, 2015), there is a provision that everyone in the civil service has the opportunity to receive training (including staff in the education sector). The law was amended to this effect in 2016).

This training allows for internal mobility, the so-called “carrière ouverte”, which was extended for another 5 years in the last civil service collective agreement. It consists of various courses, followed by a knowledge test and the writing of a final paper (mémoire). This is not a problem in the civil service, where the courses can be completed during regular working hours. Candidates can also keep the same job after successfully completing the courses and the written thesis, and receive a better salary as a result of the training.

The situation is somewhat different in the education sector. Training courses may not be completed during working hours (school time). Missed “school time” must be made up. In addition, according to officials of the Ministry of Education, this training is not part of the education system and is also unnecessary, since the Ministry of Education does not advertise other positions. According to the Ministry of Education, the completed basic education would be taken into account. According to the law, this is not an adequate justification, as the basic requirement for filling such a position is 10 years of permanent employment in the civil service.

We wonder why double standards are being applied here?

Which ministry is right?

Are not the ministry’s guidelines for the civil service authoritative?

Are we not all equal before the Constitution? We insist on being treated equally!

However, we cannot hope that Minister Claude Meisch will be open to dialogue, as he prefers to continue with his PR and election campaign. # No bei dir

Communicated by Amelux and SEW/OGBL, May 24th, 2023