Wallonia-Brussels Education Cuts Spark Outcry
Francophone education unions have denounced the cost-cutting measures planned for next year in education by the government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the French Community of Belgium. Trade union action specific to the education sector is expected to begin in November, after the All Saints’ Day holiday, reports 24brussels.
The French Community recently finalised its budget for 2026, which it characterized as a challenging undertaking. Savings of €255 million are set to occur in 2026, with total cuts projected to reach €500 million by 2029. These measures aim to limit the deficit at the end of the legislative period to €1.2 billion.
In secondary education, the government plans to save costs by increasing the teaching workload, requiring senior teachers to instruct for 22 hours per week instead of the previous 20. Furthermore, the state will expedite the reduction of sick leave salary to 60 percent. Additionally, the current scheme allowing teachers to advance on the pay scale through a master’s degree in pedagogy will be discontinued. School operating funds are also set to remain unindexed for the coming year.
“Teachers are reeling from these announcements”
“We will not let this happen!” warned Roland Lahaye, general secretary of the Christian CSC-Enseignement union. “Teachers are reeling from these announcements. These measures will really harm the quality of education,” he stated. To protest these proposed cuts, unions are mobilizing their members to participate extensively in an inter-professional demonstration scheduled for 14 October in Brussels.
Union representatives are also planning work stoppages in schools on either Monday or Wednesday to inform teachers about the imminent cost-cutting measures. According to Luc Toussaint, president of the socialist CGSP-Enseignement union, targeted union action is anticipated to commence in November, following the All Saints’ Day holiday.
“This is certainly not the way to attract candidates to the profession”
Union leaders further criticized the government’s suggestion to raise the pay scale for new primary and secondary school teachers – who now undergo four years of training instead of three – by only 5 percent. “A 5 percent increase is ridiculous!” exclaimed Roland Lahaye of CSC-Enseignement. “This is certainly not the way to attract candidates to the profession…”
The Wallonia-Brussels Federation is currently facing a teacher shortage, worsened by a 31 percent drop in enrolment in teacher training programmes since the increase in training duration to four years in 2023.
Rise in Higher Education Tuition Fees
Additionally, a substantial rise in higher education tuition fees has been announced, marking the first increase in 14 years. Fees will surge by over 40 percent, reaching nearly €1,200. A discount system will be introduced for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, meaning only half of the students will be expected to pay the full fees.
In the cultural sector, the French Community plans further savings, opting not to index various subsidies and halting the recognition of new cultural centres, libraries, or museums.
