Brussels Secondary Students: One in Four Logged High Unjustified Absences

One in four secondary school students in Brussels recorded more than nine half-days of unjustified absence during the 2024-2025 school year, according to figures published on the Brussels Times education page.

The timing stands out because the data arrives just before the new academic cycle begins, when city families and schools prepare support plans for the coming months. Brussels households already juggle multiple education pressures, from shifting tuition costs at local universities to changes in after-school arrangements.

Brussels institutions respond to family pressures

Brussels Free University plans to roll out extra financial support starting in the 2026-2027 academic year to shield students from higher tuition fees. The move targets families who would otherwise face barriers after recent fee adjustments at Flemish universities for non-EU students. Local observers note that such aid could ease immediate costs for capital residents who rely on the institution for higher education access.

Further afield in Flemish policy, a reform to after-school clubs drew comment that costs should not vary by postcode and must stay affordable for all families. Officials also reversed earlier plans to cut transport funding for special-education students following an accident in Buggenhout that prompted public concern.

Evidence points to attendance and access challenges

The absence data covers secondary students across Brussels and directly ties more than nine unjustified half-days to elevated dropout risk. Separate coverage on the same education page records over 3,600 lost or expired training recognitions in dual-education programmes, showing compliance hurdles for companies acting as mentors. These patterns emerge alongside postponed votes on scholarship reforms in the Flemish Parliament and union calls for higher-education staff to join teacher protests over workload.

City schools and families can track updates through the Brussels Times education section for guidance on support programmes. Parents seeking practical steps may review university aid announcements and after-school cost rules as details unfold in the weeks ahead.