The Right to Education
Since it achieved independence in 1830, freedom of education was laid down as
a fundamental right in Belgium. Education plays a vital role in a highly
industrialised society. It is often claimed that Belgium’s only raw material
is its grey matter. Post-war education policy was therefore explicitly aimed at
raising the level of education of the population and at democratising education.
The financial barriers to going to school were removed.
Primary and secondary education became free of charge, and an extensive
system of social subsidies and study grants was established. Today, Belgium’s
level of education is one of the highest in Europe. The percentage of children
attending school is one of the highest in Europe.
The Organisation of Education
Through State reform, education became a Community responsibility on 1
January 1989. At the same time, schools were given greater autonomy. The
initiative can come from both the government and private individuals. The
government brings together municipalities, provinces and Communities.
There are three main education networks: Community education, free subsidised
education – primarily Catholic – and official subsidised education –
organised by the municipalities and provinces.
Compulsory education
Compulsory education lasts 12 years, from the age of six to 18. Prior to
that, children can attend nursery. Primary education is spread over six years,
as is secondary education. Secondary education comprises three levels and begins
at the age of 12. Each level covers two academic years. The first year of the
first level is the same for each pupil. From the second year the choices
increase. There are four streams of secondary education: general, technical,
arts and vocational.
Higher education consists of university and non-university education.
The influence of Europe
Since the opening-up of the European Community’s internal borders, European
governments have also paid increasing attention to education. This concerns in
particular certain cross-border issues such as the introduction of new
technologies into education, the greater attention paid to immigrant children,
equal opportunities for boys and girls, equivalence of diplomas and exchange
programmes such as Erasmus, Comenius, Lingua, Leonardo and Grundtvig.
For the record, Erasmus is a European university exchange programme, Comenius
promotes mobility and cooperation between schools, Lingua deals with the
promotion of language education and learning, Leonardo with the construction of
a European lifelong learning area, and Grundtvig, in the context of the Socrates
programme, is aimed at adults.
A very few schools in Belgium are private, and are not recognised by the
authorities. Such schools are neither financed nor subsidised with public funds.
This category includes the European and international schools. Private schools
that allow inspections by the public authorities issue qualifications equivalent
to those awarded by free and public institutions.
More than two-thirds of Belgians aged between two and 29 years old are in
education. This is mainly due to the fact that nearly all children between three
and 17 attend school.
Belgium has an 80% literacy rate. All children start primary school and 88% are
enrolled in secondary school.
Approximately 24% of Belgians hold only a primary school leaving certificate
and the same number hold a lower senior school leaving certificate. 25% hold a
higher secondary school certificate, of which 7.6% have been to university.
Vocational training courses
There are three types of training to help find a job:
- Training for new skills – foreign languages, management, IT, secretarial
work, specialised manual work and sales
- Training in personal development skills: public speaking, jobseeking
courses
- Training courses leading to a formal qualification making it easier to
find a new job
Many public and private bodies provide training. Some courses are free,
others are very costly. Some lead to a recognised qualification or diploma,
others do not. It is therefore advisable to check very carefully whether a
course is properly run and really does train to fill a gap in the job market.
Where to get advice
Depending on the region where you live, different public services can provide
you with information on the training pathways available:
- Le Forem in Wallonia
- Bruxelles Formation responsible for vocational training for French
speakers in the Brussells-capital region (VDAB for Dutch-speaking
inhabitants of Brussels);
- The VDAB in Flanders
- The Arbeitsamt (Employment Agency) in German-speaking Belgium
Text last edited on: 05/2009
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2009
Reproduction is authorised.
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