On Friday 5 September, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Government adopted, at third reading, the preliminary draft decree reforming enrolment in the first year of secondary school. The reform aims to lighten the system, correct certain undesirable effects observed and guarantee families a clearer process.
Since 2010, the “enrolment” decree has governed pupils' entry into the first year of secondary school. Its aim is to ensure a fair and transparent organisation of enrolments through a centralised procedure. With the introduction of new rules in 2022 and the findings of the Enrolment Governance Commission (CoGI), the administration and parents' associations, the need to correct certain undesirable effects became clear.
The reform of the decree provides for concrete improvements. Decisions by the Enrolment Governance Commission can now be sent by email, while a paper version will still be available for parents who wish it.
The rules on the “presumed incomplete school” status are being relaxed, allowing more schools to regain this status more quickly and thus confirm enrolments immediately. From 2026, nearly 50 additional schools could benefit, which will reduce the workload of school management.
The decree also abolishes coefficient 8, which had caused undesirable effects, particularly discrimination against certain pupils in north-west Brussels, who no longer had any chance of finding a place in the school of their choice despite it being close to home, and had to make long journeys to attend school. Its abolition puts an end to these inequalities without creating new undesirable effects.
Finally, the fight against fraud (for example, a false address) is being strengthened: any proven fraud will result in the cancellation of the enrolment concerned, and the pupil must then be re-enrolled chronologically depending on remaining places.
In September 2024, 1,729 places were still available in Brussels, while only 14 pupils remained without a school. Specific initiatives will be implemented to support schools lacking appeal and gradually reduce this imbalance.
“With this reform, we are simplifying the enrolment procedure and correcting the undesirable effects that have emerged in recent years. The objective is clear: every family must be treated fairly and transparently,” concludes Valérie Glatigny, Minister of Education.