Articles from Belgium
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Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 5 June 2026 Belgium: budget cuts to state education adopted in a denial of democracy
Despite strong public opposition and strike action in schools across the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB) called by a united front of education unions, the FWB Parliament, meeting in a plenary session, voted in the early hours of 5 June to approve the government’s planned cuts in education spending.
Belgium: budget cuts to state education adopted in a denial of democracy -
Standards and working conditions 12 May 2026 Belgium: trade unions and civil society stand united against rising energy prices and government reforms
Rising energy prices and the anti-social reforms put forward by the federal “Arizona” coalition government prompted tens of thousands of people to respond to the call from Belgium’s joint trade union front, formed by the CSC, FGTB, and CGSLB.
Belgium: trade unions and civil society stand united against rising energy prices and government reforms -
Standards and working conditions 26 January 2026 Belgium: thousands take to the streets to defend public education and young people's future
In Brussels, between 6,500 and 8,000 people took part in a mass public march to protest against the austerity measures affecting education and young people in Belgium. The demonstration sought to mark a turning point and is part of a wider movement to defend the right to free, quality public...
Belgium: thousands take to the streets to defend public education and young people's future -
Standards and working conditions 28 January 2025 Belgium : unions oppose plan that worsens working conditions for teachers
A teaching profession suffering from burn out and from significant staff shortages. An undervalued non-profit sector. Demotivated, undervalued, and disrespected, teachers are advising their own children not to join the profession they have been passionately committed to for decades. These are the main issues for which teachers in Belgium have...
Belgium : unions oppose plan that worsens working conditions for teachers -
Leading the profession 26 April 2024 Belgium: Education unions join forces to end teacher shortage and austerity
“Enseignant, pas en saignant” (Teaching, not bleeding). This was one of the slogans used by the 8,000 educators who came from all over Belgium to the capital Brussels to call on politicians to increase funding for public education and put an end to the teacher shortage. The protest took place...
Belgium: Education unions join forces to end teacher shortage and austerity -
Standards and working conditions 30 November 2023 Early childhood educators: New data on the challenges they face raises the alarm about an education sector at risk
Isidora Vitorović
Research by Education International reveals that early childhood education (ECE) personnel have been among the education workers whose employment conditions were most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Preliminary findings of an ongoing research also identify this chronically underfunded sector as one of the most threatened by the global teacher shortage.
Early childhood educators: New data on the challenges they face raises the alarm about an education sector at risk -
Standards and working conditions 10 October 2023 Educator well-being in focus: International report reveals alarming challenges
A milestone report launched on World Mental Health Day, offers a comprehensive look at the health and well-being of education personnel worldwide.
Educator well-being in focus: International report reveals alarming challenges -
Standards and working conditions 11 October 2022 Belgium: Common front of education unions announces renewed action
After three successful actions in the last school year, which clearly demonstrated the frustration and anger of education staff, the common front of education unions is asking the government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB) to respect the commitments it has made and is organising a one-day strike in schools on...
Belgium: Common front of education unions announces renewed action -
Standards and working conditions 10 February 2022 Belgium: teaching should no longer be “despised”
With one in three French-speaking Belgian teachers considering leaving the profession, as shown by research conducted by the University of Mons , education unions have called for action on 10 February, not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic that is disrupting the school system, but also because there are many...
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Trade union rights are human rights 6 April 2021 Europe: Study on industrial relations and privatisation
A study for the ETUCE, EI’s European region, showed the impact of market ideology and management practices and privatisation on industrial relations and social dialogue. In addition to looking at the evolution of EU policy in the past decade, researchers studied different methods and results of industrial relations in Francophone...
Europe: Study on industrial relations and privatisation -
Trade union rights are human rights 28 October 2020 Belgium: Without consultation with unions, schools close earlier than planned for the holidays
The Belgian teacher unions strongly reacted to the announcement by the government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation to introduce distance learning for secondary school students from 28 October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were unhappy that they were not consulted and that teachers were taken by surprise and left with...
Belgium: Without consultation with unions, schools close earlier than planned for the holidays -
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 12 October 2019 #youngteachers “To teach, is to commit”, by Khalid El Mahroug (SLFP, Belgium).
Khalid El Mahroug
Teaching is just like life: always full of surprises. Too often, however, these surprises give rise to frustration, disappointment and demotivation. But why, you might ask? It’s simple: education is one of society’s essential foundations and we all know that we must invest in it through well thought out and...
#youngteachers “To teach, is to commit”, by Khalid El Mahroug (SLFP, Belgium). -
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 19 June 2019 The OECD Teaching and International Survey (TALIS) 2018 data released
The latest Teaching and international Survey (TALIS) 2018 report released by the OECD illustrates the issues teachers face in their workplace; focusing on working time and training of teachers.
The OECD Teaching and International Survey (TALIS) 2018 data released -
Union renewal and development 11 June 2019 Students and school personnel in extreme danger in High Conflict Regions
New data shows thousands of attacks on schools, mostly by military and other armed forces. This continuing epidemic of violence in regions of armed conflict demonstrates the vital and ongoing need to endorse and implement the Safe Schools Declaration.
Students and school personnel in extreme danger in High Conflict Regions -
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 3 June 2019 World Environment Day: Calling on governments to protect the planet
For World Environment Day, June 5th, Education International calls on governments to address climate change and help beat air pollution, the biggest public health crisis on the planet.
World Environment Day: Calling on governments to protect the planet -
Climate action and literacy 8 February 2019 Belgium: Massive student rally on climate change
Belgian teacher unions have declared their support for the young people who have been demonstrating in the streets of Belgium – and internationally – every Thursday for nearly a month to demand that decision-makers take urgent measures to tackle climate change.
Belgium: Massive student rally on climate change -
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 3 December 2018 Increasing funding for inclusive education: a benefit for all, of value to all!, by Claude Carroué
Cheerful pupils, playing in the playground, taking turns on a swing, in the shelter of pre-fabricated buildings currently used by several classes until new buildings under construction are operational. At the school in Bempt, in the Brussels Region commune of Forest, the enthusiasm for a school focussed on the inclusion...
Increasing funding for inclusive education: a benefit for all, of value to all!, by Claude Carroué -
Standards and working conditions 31 August 2018 Belgium: forthcoming elections threaten the future of the Pact for Excellence in Wallonia and Brussels
With the beginning of the school year in Belgium, and the approach of the elections, the teaching unions have entered into a race against time to give substance to the Pact for Excellence, which aims to guarantee quality education for all.
Belgium: forthcoming elections threaten the future of the Pact for Excellence in Wallonia and Brussels