Brussels Parliament Approves Education Reforms Affecting Teaching, Fees, Budgets

The French-speaking Community Parliament, known as Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, approved major austerity plans for education in 2026. These plans include a 10% increase in teaching time for upper secondary teachers without salary compensation and stricter sick leave rules.

Approved Changes to Teaching Conditions

The new rules on teaching time and sick leave will apply to upper secondary educators in French-speaking Brussels. Schools and staff now face the task of revising schedules to accommodate the added workload while operating under the unchanged pay structure. The stricter sick leave provisions require clearer documentation and processes for absences, shifting administrative responsibilities at individual institutions.

Adjustments to Higher Education Fees

Tuition fees for 58% of higher education students in French-speaking Brussels will rise from €835 to €1,194 starting the next academic year. This 35% increase is tied to deficit reduction efforts. Higher education institutions must update billing systems and communicate the change to affected students before enrolment deadlines.

Budget Reductions Across Systems

Simultaneous budget cuts are impacting Brussels schools in 2026, with €86.7M reduced from FWB compulsory education and €63.5M from the Flemish system. These reductions affect resource allocation for both French-speaking and Flemish schools operating in the city, requiring administrators to prioritise essential expenditures in the coming months.

Looking Ahead for Education Community

Implementation of the approved plans now moves to schools, universities and education authorities. Institutions will determine how to integrate the longer teaching hours, revised fee structures and reduced budgets while maintaining core operations. Students and teachers can expect further guidance from their respective organisations on adapting to the new framework.