Unrest in French-speaking education as new school year begins amid reforms

The start of the new school year in French-speaking Belgium is marked by considerable unease among educators, as recent reforms create a climate of uncertainty. "The holiday has caused the full bucket to evaporate a bit, but it takes little to make it overflow again," said Hans Gys, director of the Institut Saint-Louis in Namur, expressing a fear of further disruption.

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The holiday has caused the full bucket to evaporate a bit, but it takes little to make it overflow again.

Gys attributes much of the current discontent to the policies of Education Minister Valérie Glatigny. He notes a lack of confidence in the minister across the political spectrum, citing a perceived top-down approach with little consultation. A major point of friction is the decision to increase teaching hours for teachers in the third year of secondary education from 20 to 22 hours per week. This change means some teachers lose hours and must work at two different schools, causing significant frustration and practical problems.

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Few people, regardless of their political affiliation, give the minister any more credit.

Robin Grégoire, a 27-year-old teacher specializing in Dutch and English, is directly affected by the new hour requirements. "With the new measures, I have lost all my hours in those subjects," he explained. While he was recently informed he would have teaching hours in lower secondary education, he noted that many colleagues face reduced pay in similar situations. Grégoire feels fortunate to have both a college and university degree, which has helped him secure a position, but he acknowledges the ongoing difficulties.

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She pushed everything through, with little consultation and little understanding of what is happening on the ground.

Union federations have already signaled their intent to strike in September, indicating a strong willingness to take action. Gys anticipates a turbulent autumn, particularly concerning measures implemented in the previous legislative term by the PS and Les Engagés parties, which standardized subjects from kindergarten through the early years of secondary school. He remains uncertain about potential changes or reversals to these policies by the current administration.

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A portion of teachers consequently lose hours and have to work at two schools simultaneously. That causes frustration and problems.