Brussels Students Rally Against Education Reforms

Tens of thousands of students and teachers from French-speaking Belgium took to the streets in Brussels and Namur on Monday, escalating a week of demonstrations against controversial education reforms that include larger class sizes, reduced funding, and increased teaching hours without additional pay. The protests, which have drawn hundreds of thousands of participants over several days, have led to clashes with police, dozens of arrests, and a formal investigation into police conduct after videos circulated on social media showing officers displaying far-right symbols and making offensive remarks.

The Reforms at the Heart of the Crisis

The reforms, approved by the Parliament of the French Community (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles) after a 14-hour marathon session on the night of June 4-5, represent a sweeping austerity package for French-language education in Wallonia and Brussels. Backed by the liberal MR party and the centrist Les Engagés coalition, the measures aim to save €300 million initially, with projections reaching €500 million by 2029.

According to VRT NWS, the reforms include requiring French-speaking teachers in upper secondary education to teach two additional hours per week for the same salary — a 10% increase in workload. Tuition fees for higher education will rise from €835 to €1,194 for most students, while class sizes will increase and fewer teachers will be employed starting September 1, 2026. The package also introduces stricter sick-leave rules, tighter end-of-career arrangements, and reduced funding for free school supplies.

The vote was split along party lines, with the majority MR and Les Engagés voting in favor and opposition parties PS, Ecolo, and PTB/PVDA voting against. The fast-track procedure used to bypass the standard 84-hour waiting period has drawn sharp criticism, with eight constitutional law scholars calling it a “frontal violation” of parliamentary rules.

Escalating Protests and Police Response

The demonstrations began on Thursday, June 4, when approximately 3,000 protesters gathered in Brussels. The situation escalated when some protesters breached the parliament building and set off smoke bombs, prompting police to deploy water cannons and tear gas. The unrest continued on Friday, with approximately 100 arrests, and Molotov cocktails were found near Brussels Central Station.

On Monday, a new protest was called by the Mars Attacks! collective, while students in Namur marched through the city center chanting “Glatigny, resign!” — a reference to Education Minister Valérie Glatigny. As RTBF reported, students carried signs reading “We are not protesting to skip class, but to save them” and “Overworked teachers, exhausted students, a violated regulation — and we should stay silent?”

Brussels Police Chief Michel Goovaerts confirmed that approximately 30 individuals have been placed under judicial arrest, including a 13-year-old boy found carrying a can of gasoline. “We have about 30 judicial arrests, including — it’s unfortunate to note — a 13-year-old boy with a can of gasoline,” Goovaerts told VRT NWS. He added that around 400 young people have been identified and that their parents will be contacted in the coming days.

Police Conduct Under Investigation

A separate controversy has erupted over police tactics during the demonstrations. The Human Rights League (Ligue des droits humains) has denounced what it calls a “disproportionate” police response. An investigation has been opened after videos compiled by the activist media outlet “Bruxelles Dévie” circulated on social media, showing a police officer displaying a “Deus Vult” symbol — a far-right Crusades reference — on equipment, another officer smoking a cigar during the demonstration, and officers uttering sexist and transphobic insults.

Brussels Mayor Philippe Close has acknowledged the investigation. “An investigation has been opened. If this is proven, there will obviously be sanctions. Same if sexist, transphobic, or homophobic remarks were made,” Close stated, as reported by RTBF.

Political Fallout and Divisions

The protests have exposed deep political divisions between French-speaking and Flemish politicians. Flemish party leaders, including Vooruit chairman Conner Rousseau and Defense Minister Theo Francken (N-VA), have called for sending rioters to military-style bootcamps. Rousseau described the rioters as “krapuul” (scum) and demanded they “pay for the damage.” In response, Brussels Minister Ahmed Laaouej (PS) condemned the proposal, stating that “civil courts stand for democracy. Military re-education camps stand for fascism.”

Glatigny Seeks Dialogue

Education Minister Valérie Glatigny has sought to de-escalate tensions, announcing plans to “multiply meetings, including with young people, to explain what we did and why we did it.” As La Libre Belgique reported, Glatigny acknowledged that “nobody takes pleasure in making savings, but we have no other choice: we want to make sure we can pay salaries in 2029-2030.” She has signaled some flexibility, including measures to guarantee temporary teacher employment for one year.

What’s Next

With the reforms set to take effect on September 1, the coming weeks will be critical. Teachers and student unions have signaled that the protest movement is far from over. As Stijn Peeters, a Dutch teacher in Brussels, told VRT NWS: “The protest is not over yet. It smolders on and could flare up again.”

The police investigation into officer conduct will be closely watched, as will any legal challenges to the fast-track approval process. The broader question remains whether the MR-Les Engagés coalition can weather the political storm and whether the reforms will survive the sustained opposition from students, teachers, and opposition parties.