Teachers Block Standardized Exam Distribution in Liège Province
Teachers in Liège province, Belgium, have blocked the distribution of CE1D and CESS standardized exams, escalating a months-long conflict with the government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation over an austerity package for education. On Wednesday, June 17, teachers set up picket lines at “écoles coffre-fort” — secure schools where exam copies are centralized — preventing school principals from collecting the test papers for secondary school students.
Background of the Conflict
The blockade is the latest act of defiance against the “décret-programme,” an education reform package passed by the MR-Engagés majority on the night of June 4-5 after a 14-hour parliamentary marathon. The package includes a 10% increase in teaching hours without salary compensation, stricter sick leave rules, tighter end-of-career conditions, and a tuition fee increase from €835 to €1,194 for 58% of students. Budgets for free school supplies and meals have also been cut.
The government, led by Education Minister Valérie Glatigny (MR party), argues the measures are necessary to balance the Federation’s budget. The opposition — including Ecolo (Greens) and PTB (far-left) — has strongly opposed the reforms, and the parliamentary procedure itself has been contested for allegedly violating the required 84-hour delay between commission and plenary votes, as reported by RTBF.
The Exam Blockade
On Wednesday morning, teachers formed picket lines at several “écoles coffre-fort” across Liège province, including the Bressoux Piron school in Liège, the Athénées of Visé and Soumagne, and the Institut Laurent. The targeted exams are the CE1D (Certificat d’Études du 1er Degré), taken by second-year secondary students, and the CESS (Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur), taken by graduating sixth-year students. The CEB primary school exam was not blocked, as the protest movement is less significant in primary schools.
Teachers announced a “48-hour marathon” blockade. According to RTL Info, the other provinces in Wallonia are not currently affected.
One teacher on the picket line at Bressoux Piron told RTBF: “We block the principals who come to get the external evaluations, so the CE1D and CESS of secondary school. Simply because we are on strike, so we continue the blockade.”
Another teacher addressed what they described as public confusion about the exams’ importance: “I think there is enormous confusion in the mind of the general public insofar as this exam is presented as the Holy Grail. However, what we are talking about here are only two specific exams that in reality commit to nothing since, whatever happens, it is the decision of the class council that determines the student’s success or not.”
Government Response
The cabinet of Minister Glatigny confirmed it is aware of the situation, stating that “schools that have not been able to recover all the copies they need for the exams will be contacted in the afternoon by the Administration to specify the next steps.” The government noted that the legal framework provides that when students cannot take the external certificative exams, the class council can award the certificate based on the student’s work during the school year.
A Historic Escalation
Teachers on the picket line described the blockade as a “historic moment,” explicitly referencing the 1990s, when similar exam blockades weighed heavily on the teachers’ movement and led to significant concessions. The action follows weeks of escalating protest, including a massive demonstration in Brussels on June 4 that drew thousands of students and teachers, and a June 5 protest in Liège where nearly 2,000 teachers and students marched against the décret-programme.
Earlier this week, on June 15, Céline Noël, a teacher and figure of the “Mars Attacks!” collective, told RTL that dialogue with Minister Glatigny is at an impasse, describing the minister as “stubborn” and vowing: “We will not let go.”
Analysis and Outlook
The blockade represents a significant test for the MR-Engagés government. If the action spreads to other provinces, the entire external examination system in Wallonia could be compromised. While the legal safety net allows class councils to award certificates based on year-long work, the symbolic damage to the government’s authority would be substantial.
Protest leaders have already indicated that actions will continue into the next school year if no compromise is reached. With the government staking significant political capital on the décret-programme and teachers drawing inspiration from the successful 1990s movement, the standoff shows no signs of resolution. The coming days will reveal whether the blockade remains confined to Liège or becomes a catalyst for broader disruption across the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.