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Newcomers to Belgium essentially have two options when it comes to education. Either to enrol their children in a school operating within the Belgium system, or to send their children to one of the many international schools in the country. A third and seldom used option is to home educate, but as this is now closely monitored any parents choosing this route must be confident of their own abilities. Education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 18. Part-time study is sometimes allowed for those over 15. Nursery schools also operate for children from two and a half years upwards and are widespread and readily available. The government outlines the essential education policy, but implementation is the responsibility of the three language communities: the Dutch-speaking, French-speaking and German-speaking communities. The communities are responsible for education in the following regions: Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia, French and Flemish in Brussels and German in the Eastern Cantons. Below is an overview of the school system in Belgium, international schools and information for parents regarding how to find a school, enrolment, and the school year. Funding and OrganisationAs Belgium is divided into distinct federal regions there are separate education systems that run along very similar lines for each of the communities. There are three regional Ministries of Education with responsibility for implementing government policy.
Within each region there are three types of educational institution: community education, education run by public institutions and "free" private (often Catholic) schools.
Method schools such as Montessori and Steiner also form part of this third group of privately run schools and are subsidised by the state. The School SystemPre-primary Education
Free pre-primary school facilities are provided for children who have reached age two and a half. Where places are limited, priority is given to mothers working full-time. These pre-schools are often attached to a primary school. Attendance is not compulsory but it is very popular (it is clearly cheaper than other childcare alternatives, for example) and more than 90 percent of children in this age bracket attend. By age five 99 percent of children are in school. There are few formal lessons. As children get older there are supervised tasks and specialised lessons in subjects such as music, a second language and gym, and everything is done with an emphasis on play. Primary Education
Primary school education begins on the 1 September of the year in which a child reaches the age of six (although some children are admitted at age five if they are considered ready) and is free to all. It lasts for six years and a whole range of academic subjects are studied. There is a strong language emphasis. For example schools in the German community must teach French from the first or second year and in Brussels Dutch schools must teach French and French schools must teach Dutch – commune schools start this during the last year of pre-school. Primary education consists of 3 cycles:
Homework is given from an early age and a high level of parental involvement is encouraged. Secondary Education
Secondary education is also free and begins at around age 12. It lasts for six years and consists of three cycles each lasting two years. Parents may be expected to make a contribution towards the cost of text books. In the first year of secondary education all pupils follow the same programme. From the second year onwards a range of options can be chosen according to preference and ability. These will lead to education of a general nature or with a more technical, artistic or professional slant. Often schools will specialise in one of these streams or will have different sections for different streams. Within the streams pupils continue to choose from further options throughout secondary school resulting in a broad education weighted towards their preferred subjects or career. Assessment is ongoing throughout secondary education and students receive a diploma at the end of their studies. For those who have followed a general range of subjects the next step is normally higher education. Technical students often go to university or college to study related subjects or may start working straight after school. Vocational students typically begin working part-time to complement their studies from age 16 and then move into full-time employment. Those who have followed the artistic options usually go on to higher education, for example to art colleges or specialist music conservatories but may go to university or college, depending on the options they choose. Some art colleges have a secondary section starting from the third year of secondary school and pupils study for the first two years in a general school. Doubling (repeating a year)Children are tested at the end of each year of pre-school, primary and secondary school to decide if they are ready for the next year. The testing takes the form of assessment and supervised tests for younger children and exams for older children. If they are not ready to move up, they repeat the year or "double". The system continues in secondary school. Because "doubling" is common, there is usually very little stigma attached to it. Higher Education
Higher education in Belgium is organised by the Flemish and French communities via state or private institutions (often linked to religious bodies). German speakers typically enrol in French institutions or pursue their studies in Germany. There are six universities in Belgium which offer a full range of subjects. In most cases students are free to enrol at any institution as long as they have their qualifying diploma. However, those wishing to continue their studies in medicine, dentistry, arts and engineering sciences may face stricter entrance controls including additional examinations. The government sets the registration fee for each establishment and reviews it annually. There are three fee levels depending on the student's financial situation and that of their family. The higher education system in Belgium follows a Bachelor/Master process with a Bachelor's degree obtained after three years and a Master's degree after a further one or two years. Both universities and colleges can award these degrees. Students from outside Belgium coming to study in one of these establishments will have to prove that they have the appropriate entrance qualifications and that they can financially support themselves during their studies. International SchoolsThere are a large number of international schools in Belgium, mainly around Brussels and Antwerp. They follow a variety of curricula and some offer the International Baccalaureate programme. They are all privately run and therefore are fee-paying. Some offer primary education only while others can cater for all ages including pre-school and nursery age children. In many instances children are taught by nationals from their country of origin.
Finally, there are schools exclusively for children whose parents work for Shape and the European Institutions. These schools also have fee-paying places for other children, especially those of NATO officers and diplomats.
Finding a SchoolThe regional ministries of education have websites listing the schools in their area. However, not all this information is available in English. Embassies can help with details of state run and private schools as can local municipal offices. US (and non-US) citizens can get lots of useful information on schools and general life in Belgium by consulting the United States Embassy in Brussels. There are reviews of many of the international schools on their site as well as some information on selected state run and subsidised private schools.
Anyone intending to be in Belgium longer than three months must register with their local Town Hall (Maison Communale/Stadhuis) within eight days of arrival. Information about school age children will be required at this time. The town hall can provide contact details for local schools and may be able to offer useful additional information. As well as the different types of school, there is a lot of variety in the style of approach – from very liberal to very traditional – from school to school. Some communes have a specialised advisory service or can put parents in touch with a local Psycho-Medical-Social (PMS) centre, for advice about choice of school and specialised needs. Some schools have waiting lists and some have a first-come, first-served registration date. Waiting lists are common, but as there are so many different types of school, they do not always reflect the quality of education on offer for a particular child. Schools within the Belgian system will teach primarily in the language of the local community, for example Dutch in Flanders. In Brussels, municipalities operate principally in either Dutch or French depending on the majority local language, but there is always a school in the minority language, for example a French-speaking commune will also provide a Dutch-speaking school. State schools are open to all and places are usually allocated based on geographical area. However, Belgium has a strong principle of freedom of choice of school and, depending on availability of places, parents are free to choose any school within reasonable travelling distance. For the privately run schools entry may be conditional upon the ability to speak and understand the main teaching language. Schools are sometimes reluctant to admit new pupils in the course of an academic year. Private schools set their own admissions policies and, for the international schools especially, entry procedures usually involve an interview and sometimes an examination. Consult the individual school for details of admission policy and fees. EnrolmentTo enrol a child it will be necessary to supply evidence of their identity, for example passport and birth certificate. A series of forms are then completed to cover basic contact details, medical history and any known learning issues. Residency permits and visa details, if appropriate, may also be required. Schools require evidence that children have received their routine vaccinations before they are admitted. If a child does not have the required vaccinations these can usually be given by a doctor free of charge for those officially resident.
Some universities and high schools insist on pupils having adequate insurance for health, accident and third party liability. All schools encourage supplementary insurance for school outings and trips and to cover medical emergencies as well as loss or damage to glasses (for example). Schools in Belgium are normally able to provide childcare facilities before and after school for a fee to assist working parents. Typically this means that children can be supervised on the school premises from 07:30 to 18:00. However, this is mostly in state schools – many privately-run schools such as Catholic schools provide limited or no childcare – check before enrolling. Children with Special NeedsWherever possible children with disabilities and/or learning difficulties are catered for within mainstream schools. However, there are separate specialist schools available and in the case of severe disability, children may be taught at home or be exempt from compulsory schooling.
The School YearFor pre-primary, primary and secondary education, the school year starts on 1 September, or the first working day after it and ends on 30 June or the last working day before it, when the summer holidays begin. There are slight variations among the different language communities (principally for public holidays observed by an individual community) but essentially school holidays are the same throughout Belgium. There are three national holidays in May and often an extra day is added on to make a long weekend break on at least one of these. Some international schools have different holidays or may observe additional national holidays. In higher education, the academic year begins between mid-September and 1 October depending on the course. Pupils are not permitted to enter higher education establishments part-way through the academic year. The School DayAgain there are some variations between schools but the school day normally begins around 08:20 for all age groups. Pre-primary and primary establishments typically finish around 15:30, while secondary schools finish around 16:15. Most pre-primary and primary schools work a half-day only on Wednesdays and some, but not all, secondary schools follow the same pattern. School meals are provided at reasonable cost by the vast majority of schools and pupils are encouraged to take advantage of this facility. Travelling to SchoolBecause of traffic congestion problems (particularly in the main cities) children are encouraged to take advantage of the school buses (usually free) or take part in accompanied cycling groups. In some areas, for example Brussels, if there is no school bus, parents can obtain a free public transport pass for primary-school age children or a reduced-fare annual pass for secondary-school pupils. Further Information
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