Brussels Education Protests: Reforms Approved Amid Unrest

Thousands of students, teachers, and union members have taken to the streets of Brussels and Namur in a wave of protests against sweeping education reforms approved by the Parliament of the French Community. The reforms, championed by Education Minister Valérie Glatigny (MR), include €300 million in budget cuts, increased teaching hours, higher university fees, and the abolition of tenure for new hires — sparking the most significant education unrest in Belgium in recent years.

Context: A Budget Crisis

The French Community, responsible for education in Wallonia and Brussels, faces a €15 billion budget that requires €500 million in savings by 2029. According to VRT NWS, €300 million of those cuts are coming from education. The MR-Les Engagés coalition government argues the measures are essential to ensure salaries can be paid through 2029-2030.

The Reforms

The approved package includes requiring teachers in higher secondary education to work 22 hours per week instead of 20 — without additional pay. University fees will rise to €1,200 for most students starting next academic year. Tenure will be abolished for new hires, and a two-year limit will be placed on half-time work following illness. Class sizes are expected to increase to up to 30 students.

Protests and Violence

What began as organized demonstrations escalated dramatically. On June 4, approximately 3,000 protesters gathered at Brussels-Central station. The situation turned violent as some demonstrators set bicycles and trash bins on fire, attacked a fire truck, destroyed bus shelters, and breached the parliament building where smoke bombs were detonated. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas.

According to BRUZZ, an internal investigation has been opened into the conduct of some police officers after images emerged showing an officer wearing a “Deus Vult” symbol and others making inappropriate remarks. The Human Rights League called the police response “disproportionate,” while teachers reported being beaten.

Arrests mounted over successive days: 10-14 on June 4, approximately 100 on June 5 (including 14 judicial arrests — 6 adults and 8 minors), around 20 on June 6, and 15 on June 8. Molotov cocktails were found near the station on June 5.

Parliamentary Drama

The reforms were approved after a marathon 14-hour parliamentary session on the night of June 4-5. The majority coalition of MR and Les Engagés voted in favor while opposition parties PS, PTB, and Ecolo voted against. The fast-track procedure bypassed the standard 84-hour waiting period, drawing accusations of democratic backsliding from the opposition.

Key Reactions

Minister Glatigny defended the cuts, telling BX1: “Nobody enjoys saving, but we have no choice.” She has since sought dialogue, promising “many more meetings, also with young people, to explain what we are doing and why.”

Teacher Stijn Peeters criticized both the violence and the police response: “I don’t deny that some young semi-delinquents went too far, but that should not be a license to target other protesters.”

Political reactions were sharply divided. Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau called rioters “scum” and suggested sending them to “bootcamp,” while N-VA’s Theo Francken proposed re-education programs. MR chairman Georges-Louis Bouchez accused teachers of inciting students through disinformation.

Analysis and Implications

The crisis exposes a deep tension between fiscal responsibility and educational quality in Belgium’s French Community. The immediate consequences include larger class sizes, a less attractive teaching profession, and damaged trust between the government and the education sector. Longer-term, analysts warn of growing youth disenfranchisement and deteriorating police-community relations.

What’s Next

A new protest was called for the afternoon of June 8 at the Poelaertplein in Brussels, with the Mars Attacks collective calling for peaceful demonstration. Glatigny has opened the door to dialogue, but with the reforms already approved, the question remains whether further unrest can be avoided. The coming weeks will test whether the government’s olive branch can calm tensions — or if Belgium’s education crisis has only just begun.