Family League Urges More School Supply Funding in Belgium

The Family League (Ligue des Familles) is calling on the Belgian government to increase per-student funding for school supplies, arguing that current allocations are insufficient to cover the real costs faced by families. The organization’s survey of 1,146 families reveals that parents spent an average of 102 euros on small school supplies for the 2025 school year, while schools in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (FWB) will receive only 29 euros per primary school student for the free supplies program.

Context: A Funding Gap of 73 Euros

Until last year, primary schools received 77 euros per child for the years covered by the free supplies program (1st, 2nd, and 3rd primary). That amount now drops to 29.42 euros this school year and will fall further to 24.52 euros next year. In preschool (maternelle), funding drops from 62.58 euros to 20.46 euros per student. The free supplies program, previously covering the first three primary years, has been extended to 4th and 5th years, yet the per-student allocation has been dramatically reduced.

The Family League questions how schools will bridge the 73-euro difference between the funding provided and what parents actually spend. “To finance the surplus, schools will have to cut from other important budget items, unless they increase other fees charged to parents,” warns Madeleine Guyot, Director General of the Family League.

Limited Savings Margins for Families

The organization’s survey suggests families have little room to economize further. More than 90% of families already reuse materials from year to year. When they repurchase, it’s primarily to replace damaged or exhausted supplies (80% of cases), followed by school requirements for materials the student doesn’t yet have (44%). Only 10% of new purchases respond to a parent’s or child’s wish, according to the Family League survey covered by RTBF.

Secondary Education: The Heaviest Burden

In secondary education, where the free supplies program does not apply, the bill remains heaviest: 151 euros for small materials, 150 euros for textbooks, and 79 euros for photocopies per student, with a legal cap set at 75 euros. Additionally, 29% of secondary students are required to have a personal computer, and it’s practically necessary for 44% of them. Computer equipment costs an average of 333 euros.

Budget Crisis Behind the Cuts

The funding reductions stem from a severe budget crisis in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. The institution spends 15 billion euros against 13.5 billion in revenue, resulting in a 1.5 billion euro deficit. Its debt is estimated at 14.25 billion euros, representing 105% of its revenue. The MR-Engagés coalition government announced 500 million euros in savings over 4 years, with education bearing 86.7 million euros in cuts for 2026 alone, as RTBF reported.

The free school supplies program was introduced in 2019 as a flagship measure to alleviate family budgets and ensure equality among primary school students. It was progressively extended, reaching 3rd primary in 2024, when the Family League welcomed the measure as one that would allow 56,000 families to save 100 euros at the next school year, according to the organization’s 2023 press release.

Schools Caught in the Middle

School directors warn of the practical consequences. Bruno Hendrickx, director of Collège Cardinal Mercier in Braine-l’Alleud, wrote in La Libre that schools are being asked to do more with three times less funding. He warns of a “two-tier school system” where schools with external support can compensate while others cannot, and describes the situation as being asked to “turn off the heating to buy pencils.”

Government supporters argue the budget measures are necessary for fiscal sustainability. Diana Nikolic, an MR politician, contends that the free supplies program “doesn’t stop — it goes even further, where it’s most useful,” and that the left had years to address the deficit and did nothing, as stated on her website.

Family League’s Demands

The Family League is asking the government to: (a) relaunch systematic inspection of preschool and primary schools, (b) adapt per-student funding if it proves insufficient, and (c) plan the extension of free supplies to secondary education. The organization also warns of potential stigmatization if targeted assistance creates differentiation among students, as RTBF previously reported.

What’s Next

As families prepare for the new school year, the key question remains: how will schools bridge the funding gap? Some municipalities are stepping up with solidarity initiatives, such as Etterbeek’s school supplies collection drive, as BruxellesToday reported. Meanwhile, the Family League continues to press the government to adapt its funding model, and parents can look for ways to reduce costs, with some finding better prices across the border, as RTBF’s consumer investigation showed.

Whether the government will respond to the Family League’s call remains to be seen, but with the school year fast approaching, the pressure on families and schools is mounting.