This morning, the Government met with trade union organisations and the Federations of school governing bodies to present measures aimed at supporting the implementation of the savings measures set out in Programme-Decree 2, thereby easing their impact on teaching staff.
Among the proposals put forward:
- Increase in teaching hours in upper secondary education
Support measures will be proposed to better protect temporary teachers facing a reduction in their workload.
- Reduction of 2 “face-to-face” teaching periods in the first year of teaching and from age 60
To ensure schools run smoothly, particularly smaller establishments, the Government proposes a clarification:
- New teachers hired for more than a half-time position benefit from a reduction of 2 teaching periods;
- New teachers hired after 1 January can extend this reduction for one additional year (e.g.: hired on 2 January 2026 → extension in 2027-2028).
- Leave for reduced duties due to therapeutic part-time work
- From the 2026-2027 school year, all teachers will benefit from a new full two-year period of therapeutic part-time work, even if they have already used it before.
- After ten years of seniority, a new two-year period will be possible, replacing the previous one.
- The medical certificate, renewed every six months, may be issued by a general practitioner or a specialist, with proof of a specialist consultation required between the 12th and 18th month if necessary.
- Free school supplies: phased rollout across all of primary education
As part of the 2026 budget conclave, free school supplies will be extended to all of fundamental education (1st year of nursery school to 6th year of primary school). At the request of the FPO/WBE, a gradual rollout is planned: 4th and 5th year of primary school from 2026-2027, and 6th year from 2027-2028.
- Support and Guidance Unit (CSA)
The Government proposes flexibility measures by spreading the 30% saving, initially planned from 2027-2028, over 2 years, namely 20% in 2026-2027 and 30% in 2027-2028.
- Progressive tuition fees : inclusion of income thresholds in the decree
In order to enable the implementation of the new progressive tuition fee for the 2026-2027 academic year, the Government proposes including the income thresholds for this year in the programme decree. This will make it possible to communicate the different categories to institutions and students as of today.
Progressive tuition fees by bracket:
| Number of dependants | Tuition fee exemption | Modest tuition fee | Intermediate tuition fee |
| 0 | €27339,85 | €35339,85 | €44339,85 |
| 1 | €35740,49 | €43740,49 | €52740,49 |
| 2 | €43638,39 | €51638,39 | €60638,39 |
| 3 | €50995,02 | €58995,02 | €67995,02 |
| 4+ | €57828,91 | +€65828,91 | €74828,91 |