Between the measures announced by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation government and the various communications circulated by the unions, it is essential that everyone takes the time to get informed and analyse the measures objectively.
Will the 7th years of vocational education close?
No decision to close has been made. Pupils who hold a CESS from vocational education (and are therefore of age) and wish to continue their training will be encouraged to turn to Adult Education, IFAPME, EFP, university colleges, university, etc. It is true that some 7th year TQ classes will be affected because very few pupils would remain, but the pupils' own pathways will not be affected.
It should be recalled that it will always remain possible to take a 7th year if it is necessary to obtain a CESS. Finally, the 7th years preparing for higher education remain accessible.
Will pupils who have dropped out be excluded from school?
No. Only adult pupils who have dropped out (i.e. left school) for at least a year and who wish to re-enrol in the 3rd or 4th year of secondary school (i.e. alongside 15-year-old pupils) will be directed towards Adult Education. This provides them with appropriate educational support, tailored specifically for young adults. This measure should also help teachers manage less heterogeneous classes.
Will pupils in vocational education be restricted in their choices and access to higher education?
No. A pupil in vocational education who has obtained their CESS can continue their studies without restriction, including in higher education (higher education college, university, etc.).
Will staffing resources in education be reduced, contributing to larger class sizes? Will resources in vocational education be heavily cut?
A 3% cut in funding has been decided for vocational education. It is up to schools to decide for which tasks the funding will be reduced.
Let us recall that there are 5,400 options in vocational education, of which 2,700 have fewer than 10 pupils, and among these, 1,300 offer an identical option within less than 10 km.
Will options with too few pupils be scrapped?
Adjusting the range of options to the needs of pupils in relation to their future socio-professional integration is a measure decided during the previous legislature. There is no plan to reinforce this measure.
Will pupils in the 3rd year of secondary school have to choose between the transition track and the vocational track, which does not give access to higher education?
No, the Minister has no intention of restricting access of vocational-education pupils to higher education.
Will the 7th vocational years of vocational education no longer be accessible once the CESS and the qualification certificate (CQ) have been obtained?
Only young people who already hold a CESS and a CQ and wish to pursue another course are concerned. They will be invited to turn to adult education, IFAPME, EFP, higher education colleges, university, etc., i.e. schemes offering equivalent training and qualifications, tailored to their age and needs, and enabling them to obtain a CESS. This guidance is part of the commitments of the Pact, which aims to better meet pupils' needs by directing everyone towards the most suitable training pathway (“who does what for whom?”).
Will tenured teachers lose their tenure?
No. Tenured teachers will of course remain tenured.
Will teachers' pensions decrease?
The pension scheme falls under federal competence. Negotiations for a new majority agreement are ongoing.
Will funding for the renovation of school buildings be reduced?
No, funding for the renovation of school buildings is increasing. However, part of the indexation of funds allocated to school buildings was withdrawn on the proposal of the Minister-President of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, who holds competence over school buildings.
Will end-of-career arrangement measures (DPPR) be scrapped?
Not only does no text exist on this matter, it is not even mentioned in the DPC. However, end-of-career arrangements will be reviewed in order to ease the burden on older teachers and give them other duties, such as mentoring young teachers starting out in the profession. The aim is to try to retain “seniors” longer in the profession, while allowing the school system to benefit from their expertise.
Will the “sick leave pool” be abolished?
The programme decree contains no measure on this matter.
Is it true that social dialogue is non-existent?
Social dialogue is ongoing, both with trade unions and with federations of organising bodies and parents' associations. The measures concerning the 2025 budget were indeed discussed with the sector, and the reform of the teaching career will be as well. But the question is: “what do we mean by consultation”? “Consulting” does not mean always agreeing on everything.
Is the teaching status set to disappear?
It is set to evolve, since it no longer seems sufficiently attractive to young teachers. As a reminder, the teacher shortage is hitting our schools hard, one in three young teachers leaves the profession within five years, and every year some teachers leave the profession even though they were on track for tenure. This is also a sign that work needs to be done to restore the image of teachers and the respect owed to this role, which is central to our society.
Will young teachers have to work more, and will their pension be cut by €600? Will tenured teachers lose €300/month in pension?
The aim is to maintain the rights of young teachers through a second pension pillar. Teachers holding a master's degree (pay scale 501) will indeed be asked to carry out additional tasks, not yet defined at this stage, in order to make use of their expertise within their school (for example: tackling school dropout or bullying).