In a constrained budgetary context, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Government has made a deliberate choice: to invest specifically in the quality of education. In line with this approach, in 2027 the first teachers from the 4-year training programme will receive a 5% pay increase.
Teacher training has indeed been extended from three to four years of study. This extension meets the need to better prepare future teachers for the realities of the profession. It allows for a deeper development of pedagogical and subject-specific skills, better classroom management, and stronger preparation for the daily challenges of teaching. Better training means giving teachers the means to help pupils succeed better.
It was therefore legitimate to recognise this enhanced training effort in salary terms as well. The Government has decided to introduce a new pay scale, increased by 5% compared to the current one. This scale will apply to holders of a master's degree in teaching entering the profession from the 2027 school year.
Specifically, for a teacher at the start of their career, this increase amounts to around 150 euros gross more per month, or nearly 1,800 euros gross per year. This measure aims, among other things, to make the teaching profession more attractive, given that one in three young teachers leaves the profession within 5 years.
Investing in schools also means investing in those who bring them to life every day.