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Compulsory learning of languages in schools?
A question to those more familiar with the education system in Belgium. In the French-speaking schools, is it compulsory for all pupils to study Dutch? And vice-versa; is it an obligation in Dutch-speaking schools to have French as a subject? If so, from what age at the latest?
Or does it depend on the school and the area?
In all local French schools, it is compulsory to learn Dutch. In Brussels it is compulsory from 3rd primary (children born in 2003 this year) but it is usual now in schools in Brussels to start in 3rd maternelle (chidren born in 2006 this year)and there are several immersion schools which do full / part Dutch immersion for French speakers from 3rd maternelle too. In Wallonia, the teaching of Dutch is obligatory from 5th primary (2 years later than Brussels), you also find it taught earlier than obligatory and several Dutch immersion schools too for francophones.
If you are temporarily in Belgium, if you work for NATO or the EU for example, you can apply for an opt-out of obligatory Dutch lessons, but it does require quite a bit of bureaucracy.
In Brussels Dutch schools, it is likewise obligatory to learn French from 3rd primary but is often taught earlier - but then typically 80% of pupils in Dutch schools in Brusels are already French speakers! In Flanders, I think it's obligatory from 5th primary too, not sure about that, you do find many more schools teach English as an option before that time.
