Brussels schools face 'critical' pressure, says institute for statistics

Brussels schools could come under even more pressure during the next few years with high inflows of students from Flanders and Wallonia coupled with a population boom seen since 2005.

For a seat in their first choice of school, parents of primary school children are queuing for days or waiting weeks to find out if they have a place. According to the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis, many parents are obliged to send their child to another school.

“Although secondary education is still not saturated, the situation there will also become critical when students of primary school age reach secondary education,” read a recent report released by the institute.

Incoming students accounted for 12% of the school population in Brussels in the 2014-2015 academic year. In primary school, there were about 16,500 incoming students, and some 19,000 in secondary schools.

More than 80% of the new students in Brussels’ schools are from Flemish Brabant, and most of them attend a French-speaking school. Criteria for choosing a school in Brussels include language, a certain available specialisation or a commuting parent.

Photo courtesy Onderwijs Brussel