Language classes in Brussels hit by fee hikes

Enrolment numbers for English and French courses at CVO Brussels have plummeted from 842 to just 10 following the Flemish government's decision to triple fees for so-called 'hobby courses'.

From this term onwards, students will have to pay 4 euros per hour instead of 1.50 euros under Education minister Zuhal Demir’s (N-VA) reform, which is intended to save 33 euros million.

The fee increases have hit languages, photography and cooking courses, while those in shortage occupations such as childcare or nursing have been made cheaper. Directors are calling the impact “dramatic”. CVO Semper has already lost 909 French learners (a 30 per cent decrease) and has seen its English intake halve to 346.

Frustration is running high at CVO Brussels. "A standard module of 120 hours now costs 480 euros," said Birgit Steurs, deputy director of languages. "Candidate after candidate has told us that they simply cannot afford it."

^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGIAN_FREELANCE}

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