Adult education teachers protest against increase in registration fee
Around 100 teachers from Flemish adult education protested Friday morning at the office of education minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA), fearing her planned reforms will make courses more expensive and elitist. The demonstration was organised by a joint trade union front.
The Flemish government plans to raise registration fees for adult education. What Demir refers to as “hobby courses” will become more expensive, while training for shortage professions will be cheaper.
The unions argue this risks pricing out learners from valuable courses. They reject the “hobby” label for classes like adult language education, stressing their importance for social and labour market integration. “French and English language courses are crucial for the integration of newcomers into society and the labour market,” the unions said.
They also warn the higher fees will hinder access to lifelong learning. “Even for those who do not belong to a socially vulnerable group,” they said. Job security is also at risk: “If registrations fall, the job security of the staff will come under pressure. And this is especially the case in courses that offer a clear social added value or an important addition to the professional career.”
Finally, the unions say the reform introduces “a multitude of rates,” creating “confusion and increased administrative burdens for the centres for adult education in Flanders.”
“We are already one of the worst pupils in the class in terms of lifelong and life-wide learning. By raising financial barriers, this will not improve. On the contrary,” the union front concluded.
#FlandersNewsService | Campaign "Keep adult education accessible to everyone!'" by ACOD Education, COC, COV and VSOA in front of the office of Flemish minister Demir, in Brussels, on Friday 27 June 2025. A delegation will present a petition signed by more than 10,000 supporters to Demir. © BELGA PHOTO TIMON RAMBOER
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