Education groups question plan to trim study days
Catholic Education Flanders has called for quick talks with education minister Zuhal Demir after she announced plans to cut the number of study, evaluation and administrative days in schools.
Demir says too much teaching time is lost because of study days, optional holidays and other exceptions. From next school year, the school calendar will be tightened so pupils spend more days in class. The plan has already been agreed within the Flemish government and is now being discussed with unions and school groups.
Catholic Education, the largest school network in Flanders, says the changes will strongly affect how schools work day to day. Spokesperson Pieter-Jan Crombez said there has been no prior consultation and that school leaders will first be asked for their views.
Teacher unions are critical. The socialist union ACOD calls the plan “pure symbolism”, saying teachers use study and evaluation days for long hours of essential work, such as marking exams and training. The Christian union COV is also disappointed and says the cuts increase pressure on teachers and show a lack of trust. Both unions say they were not consulted.
Opposition party Groen also opposes the plan. MP Kim Buyst warns that teachers will not have enough time to prepare for new learning targets due to start in 2026. She says study days are vital for quality teaching and school autonomy. Coalition partner CD&V also has reservations about the plan. While the party supports the aim of increasing teaching time, it says the real problem is the teacher shortage, not study days or class councils, and warns against putting extra pressure on already overstretched staff.
Demir argues that Flemish secondary schools already have up to 22 fewer school days per year than the OECD average, even though weekly teaching hours are higher.
#FlandersNewsService | Flemish minister for Education Zuhal Demir attends a class © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK