Levels of education

Compulsory schooling in Belgium lasts until a child reaches 18 years. The education system is divided into four levels:

  • Nursery education: from 2½ to 6 years (non-compulsory)
  • Primary education: from 6 to 12 years
  • Secondary education: from 12 to 18 years
  • Higher education: above 18 years (non-compulsory)

Nursery school

Education in Belgium begins at the age of 2½ (or 3 years) with three years of nursery school education. This is not compulsory, although Belgian education experts strongly advise it. The system is designed to prepare young children for primary education rather than to provide a childminding service.

Primary school

Primary school is compulsory. It involves a six-year cycle from 6 to 12 years. Children are admitted into primary education on 1 September of the calendar year in which they turn six. The main subjects are reading, writing and elementary mathematics.

Nearly all schools are mixed, and children in primary education learn the country’s second official language (either Dutch or French) from third year onwards. The school day begins between 8.00 and 8.30, and ends between 15.30 and 16.00. Most children stay at school for lunch (although this is not compulsory) and all schools provide cooked meals. Most schools offer after-school supervision between 16.00 and 18.00, which is a combination of play and help with homework. Schools in the French-language community often work together with an Ecole de devoir, where children receive help with their homework.

Secondary school

The choice of subjects offered at this level is very wide. It is impossible to list all the possibilities, but the four main options are as follows:

  • General secondary education: general education intended for young people planning to continue their education beyond the age of 18, whether at a university or at a non-university higher education institute. There is no direct preparation for a profession.
  • Technical secondary education: the orientation here is more practical and enables students to practise a trade on completion of the course, although they can choose to continue in a specialised course of study. Students in this sector are not excluded from university or non-university further education.
  • Kunsthumaniora: this is geared towards the plastic arts, theatre and music. It prepares students for higher education in institutions such as the Conservatorium/Conservatoire (music academy). 
  • Secondary vocational education: this is vocational education intended for young people not planning to continue their education beyond the age of 18 but wishing to take up a particular trade or learn a craft. There is less emphasis on general culture and more focus on practical training in firms. 

Higher education

This level of education is open to young people who have successfully completed the full general or technical secondary education course. Belgian colleges and universities offer students a wide range of options.

The Bologna Declaration led to a radical overhaul of the Belgian system of higher education. Signed by European ministers of education in 1999, the declaration was intended to harmonise higher education across the European Union. This had led in Belgium to a distinction between a Bachelor’s degree (a general education lasting three years) and Master’s or MA degree (a specialised course lasting one or two years). The work load is measured in ECTS credits, with a Bachelor’s degree rated 180 ECTS credits, while a Master’s degree is between 60 and 120 ECTS. Under this system, one ECTS credit amounts to 24 study hours.