Home / Education / Brussels Erupts: Education Reforms Spark Violent Protests
Brussels Erupts: Education Reforms Spark Violent Protests
5 Jun
Summary
- Protests in Brussels turned violent with police using tear gas.
- Planned reforms include a 35% increase in higher education tuition fees.
- Teachers may face extra hours without additional pay under new proposals.
Protests turned violent in Brussels on Thursday, June 4, 2026, as demonstrators clashed with police over proposed reforms to the French Community's education sector. Police resorted to tear gas in the city center, which was marked by vandalism and debris, prompting warnings for people to avoid the main railway station area.
The planned reforms, set for a parliamentary vote later on Thursday, aim to address a projected 1.9 billion euro deficit. Key changes include a 35% hike in annual higher education tuition fees, from €835 to €1,194, and requiring teachers to work additional hours without extra pay.
While the tuition increase, bringing fees to €1,194, is still considered low internationally, it represents a substantial rise. Teachers expressed concerns about deteriorating working conditions and larger class sizes due to the proposed measures. The French Community government defended the reforms as necessary for re-investment amid strained public finances.
