Structure of the chapter

This chapter provides a thematic and chronological overview of national reforms and policy developments since 2022.

The web pages that follow group reforms in the following broad thematic areas :

• Early childhood education and care (see 14.1.) ;
• General school education (see 14.2.) ;
• Vocational education and training (see 14.3.) ;
• Higher education (see 14.4.) ;
• Adult education and training (see 14.5.).

Inside each thematic area, reforms are organized chronologically. The most recent reforms are described first.

Government's key objectives for education

In addition to the reforms established and described in the following sections, the French Community adopted on 11/07/2024 its Declaration on Community Policy (CPD) (2024-2029).

Education is the French Community's main mission, to which it devotes most of its budget. The system is marked by performance gaps, inequalities, a search for meaning and, too often, a feeling of malaise among those involved in education. It is on these issues that the government intends to work to support the acquisition of 21st century skills for every pupil.
A number of measures are therefore planned.  These include :

• encouraging school attendance from an early age and integrating children and their families into the world of school ;
• having a school that is open to the challenges of our time, in terms of languages, citizenship, climate change, digital technology, culture, etc. ;
• further develop work-linked training ;
• fight against the shortage of teachers ;
• fight against bullying and school drop-out rates ;
• re-establish a climate of trust with those involved in education, strengthen the autonomy of school management and significantly reduce the administrative burden ;
• strengthen the links between secondary and higher education ;
• continue to support universities and scientific research ;
• create the conditions to enable children to flourish, parents to better reconcile their family and professional lives, and everyone to flourish in a sustainable, caring society ;
• fight against child poverty.

Moreover, the strategic directions of the Walloon Government for the period 2024-2029 are detailed in its Declaration of Regional Policy (DPR).

Wallonia is devoting a budget of over 3 billion to its employment and training policies. 
A number of measures are planned.  These include :

• putting in place a real strategy to promote job-creating sectors and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) occupations under the coordination of a dome bringing together the various stakeholders concerned ;
• providing everyone with the tools they need to reintegrate quickly or remain in the labour market ;
• aiming to simplify administrative procedures, streamline procedures and the user logic ;
• making it easier for jobseekers, learners, employers and the general public ;
• promoting and meeting the needs of occupations in short supply ;
• optimising the lifelong learning landscape and guaranteeing a quality framework for all those involved.

In addition, a stronger partnership framework will be put in place between training structures and professional sectors, around strategic streams. In order to ensure, at the level of the various Walloon catchment areas, a better match between the training on offer, the reality of the jobs and the needs of businesses, particularly in the priority sectors, the Government undertakes to :

• provide all learners with objective, high-quality guidance and access to comprehensive, objective information on the world of jobs and training, particularly technical and manual jobs, and improve the image of these jobs by streamlining and strengthening cooperation on guidance between the various stakeholders within the framework of the lifelong guidance system (OTLAV) ;
• ensure an efficient training offer in line with the current and future needs of the world of work, guaranteeing training that is up to date with the realities of the jobs and the regions ;
• review the organisation of the ecosystem in terms of state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure, ensuring that they are pooled, particularly within vocational training operators, Forem centres and Competence Centres (CDC). In collaboration with the Government of the French Community, discussions will be extended to the Advanced Technology Centres (CTA).

Finally, the development of vocational education, dual vocational education and vocational training requires cross-cutting policies. On the basis of an inventory and reform scenarios for dual vocational education, vocational education, adult education and vocational training carried out during the previous legislature, the Governments of Wallonia and the French Community, in consultation with the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, wish to implement a systemic reform within the French-speaking area, with the following objectives :

• education that leads to qualifications and really provides training for a job, and which students choose positively ;
• rapid and effective care for all pupils who drop out of school, and the fight against drop out ;
• doubling participation in vocational training in Wallonia ;
• more effective vocational training that leads to a job and high-quality diplomas that are known and recognised on the labour market.
   

Following the recent elections, the government has not yet been formed in the Brussels-Capital Region. The Declaration of Regional Policy (DPR) has thererfore not been written yet.