As a result of an adjustment of federal legislation, compulsory education in Belgium will begin from the age of 5 years old – instead of 6 – as of the next school year 2020-2021. 

 

With this measure, the federal government aims to ensure that all children have attended the kindergarten level for at least one year, to facilitate their adaptation to the primary education and making this transition as smooth as possible.

 

As a result, all children born in 2015 – hence turning 5 in 2020 and regardless of their actual birth month  – will be subject to compulsory schooling as of 1 September 2020. In concrete terms, compulsory schooling implies a regular attendance in kindergarten and in a full-time basis.  Per principle, all absences must be documented by medical certificates, however, in the German-speaking Community, absences may be approved in certain cases – depending on specific school regulations’ – between 8 and 30 half days a year.

Source:  Eurydice Unit Belgium - German Speaking Community