• School timetable's reform

The Government has adopted the decision to revise, from the start of the 2022-2023 school year, the school timetables for all types ans level compulsory education. The fundamental element of this reorganization of the annual school calendar is to alternate periods of seven weeks of learning with periods of two weeks off. This "7/2" model is recommended by experts in chronobiology in the extent to which it confers the best balance between the length of the learning times and the rest periods necessary for the proper development of children and young people.
This reform was debated in the public sphere for 30 years. 

• Reform of the decree for higher education (décret paysage)

The reform of the Paysage decree came into effect at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year in higher education. The conditions for a student to be eligible for funding have been tightened, and the timeframe allowed to complete their studies has been shortened.

A student who complies with the success requirements set out in the Paysage decree is considered eligible for funding. This means the university or college where they are enrolled receives subsidies from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation to cover the cost of their education. 

For each study cycle, a specific number of credits must be earned. For a bachelor’s degree, this is generally 180 credits (240 credits for certain programs). When 180 credits are required, the studies are divided into three "blocks," each corresponding to one academic year and comprising 60 credits.

The first block, "Block 1," must be completed within the first two years of study at most. Students must successfully complete Block 1 to be admitted to Block 2, which must also be completed within two years to progress to Block 3. For the entire 180-credit bachelor’s degree (all three blocks), students have a maximum of five years to complete their studies—six years if they have changed their course of study.

For master’s degrees, the timeframe depends on the type of program: 60, 120, or 180 credits. A 60-credit master’s must be completed within two years. A 120-credit master’s allows up to four years, and a 180-credit master’s allows up to six years.

The examination board of the institution where the student is enrolled may apply specific rules. For example, a bachelor’s student who has earned only 50 out of 60 credits in the first two years may be permitted to enroll for a third year in the same program and remain eligible for funding, but must successfully complete that third year or risk exclusion from higher education in the future. Such decisions are at the discretion of the examination board. Similar exceptions may also apply in master’s programs.

• “Teaching Excellence Pact” 

The “Teaching Excellence Pact” is the ongoing education reform in the French-speaking Community.

Key Measures of the Reform

Eight Hours of Options: From the third year of secondary school, students will choose eight hours of optional courses, distributed among three pathways: transition, qualifying, and polyvalent.
End of Extended Common Core: The reform reverses the "Pacte d’excellence," which had extended the common core until age 15, aiming to provide all students with a solid foundation before any specialization.

Background and Context

The "Pacte d’excellence," adopted under the previous government, included a broad common core encompassing physical education, health, digital skills, arts, and culture—elements found in high-performing education systems according to PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment).
The goal was to ensure equity and delay early tracking, allowing students to develop a wide range of competencies before choosing a specific path.

Its aim is to define action priorities at a 10-year horizon to strengthen the quality in education, make it more efficient and more equal. The Pact gathers numerous measures which will be translated into decrees. They will be submitted separately at the Government for approbation. 

 It will be implemented on a 15 years period from 2017 until 2030.
The first reforms will begin with pre-primary school in 2017 and will gradually affect every school degree from lowest (pre-primary) to highest (last degree of secondary school). 

It is based on a consultation process which run from 2015 to mid-2016. The whole education’s sector has been consulted (teachers, headmasters, educators, parents, students). The finale version of the proposal has been presented to the Government in January 2016. 

The main measures of the proposition of the pact are divided into 5 axes:

Axe 1: A core curriculum strengthened 

- Strengthen the quality of pre-primary education (Increase employment for nurses and pre-primary education, etc.);
- Implement a core curriculum with 7 learning fields for the first 9 years of education. 

5 learning fields are specific: 

1. Languages
2. Artistic expression
3. Mathematics, sciences and technical skills
4. Social and Human sciences, philosophy and citizenship
5. Physical education or education linked to well-being and health 

And there are 2 cross-disciplinary learning fields: 

1. Creativity and spirit of enterprise (esprit d’entreprendre)
2. Learning to learn and make choices.

This core curriculum will be implemented in 2020 for pupils from pre-primary school until 2nd grade of primary school. 

- Success the digital transition 
- Develop the educational approach of guidance 
- Reform the structure of the last degree of secondary school

Axe 2: Empower every educational actors 

Axe 3: Reform of dual vocational education and training

- Increase the value of dual vocational education and training. 

Axe 4: Towards an inclusive school 

Axe 5: Quality life at school 

The civil society is divided regarding the adoption of the pact. 

Effective changes since 2020

Since the start of the school year 2020-2021, school is compulsory from 5 instead of 6 years old previously. This measure aims at fighting school failure in primary school, by signposting potential learning difficulties. 

Preschool has now precise pedagogical objectives and the measure aiming at making school free is extended to the third  year of preschool. It means that preschool cannot claim for fees to purchase school's material (painting, etc.).

 A Regional Pact for Employment and Training

See chapter 3, section “debates and reforms”

• “Move the Lines” and the Artistic and Cultural Education programme

See Chapter 8, section “debates and reforms”