Francophone education unions threaten action following budget cuts
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.
The French Community has finalised its budget for 2026. It was announced as a difficult exercise, and that is what it has turned out to be. Savings of 255 million euros will be made in 2026, and over the coming years (until 2029) the total cuts will amount to half a billion euros. This is to limit the deficit at the end of the legislative period to 1.2 billion euros.
In secondary education, the government is saving money by having teachers spend more time in the classroom. Teachers in the highest years will have to teach 22 hours per week instead of 20. Teachers on sick leave will also fall back to 60 per cent of their salary more quickly. The government is also putting an end to the scheme that currently allows teachers to move up the pay scale by taking a master's degree in pedagogy. Furthermore, school operating funds will not be indexed next 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 added. To denounce these cost-cutting measures, the unions are encouraging their members to participate en masse in the inter-professional demonstration planned for 14 October in the streets of Brussels.
Work stoppages will also be organised in schools by union representatives on either Monday or Wednesday to inform teachers about the cost-cutting measures. According to Luc Toussaint, president of the socialist CGSP-Enseignement union, specific union action in the education sector is expected to begin in November, after the All Saints' Day holiday.
“This is certainly not the way to attract candidates to the profession”
The unions are also criticising the government's proposal to increase the pay scale for new primary and secondary school teachers, who are now trained for four years instead of three, by 5 per cent. “A 5 per cent increase is ridiculous!” said Roland Lahaye of CSC-Enseignement. “This is certainly not the way to attract candidates to the profession...”
There is a shortage of teachers in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Since the extension of training to four years in 2023, the number of young people enrolling in teacher training courses has fallen by 31 per cent.
Increase higher education tuition fees
Also striking is the sharp increase in higher education tuition fees. These fees had not been indexed for 14 years. This is now happening, resulting in an increase of more than 40 per cent, to almost 1,200 euros. However, a system of discounts will be introduced for students from socio-economically disadvantaged families, which means that ultimately only half of the students will have to pay the full amount.
The French Community is also making savings in the culture domain: various subsidies will not be indexed. No new cultural centres, libraries or museums will be recognised either.
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