Alif Meraki

Regional Education Differences in Belgium: Secondary
Education
The educational system of Belgium is regionalized into three regions:
Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital, and each region has its own vision
of the secondary education.
Flanders:
In Flanders, secondary education is defined for children of ages 12-18 and is

further split into three phases. The first one is called lower secondary, for
children aged 12-14, the second one is called upper secondary, in which the
students can choose between general, technical or vocational curriculum,
and the third one is called post-compulsory, for students aged 16-18. The
system is centered on academic success and testing, which is supported by
multilingual education and STEM focus (Verhoeven, 2009). Pupils in Flanders
have to sit high-stakes tests at the end of their education and these tests
determine their further educational or vocational trajectory.
Wallonia:
There is also two cycles for secondary education in Wallonia as well. In the
first cycle (years 12–15), the education is general, but in the second cycle
(ages 15–18) one can choose general, technical, or vocational stream. While
studying the difference in the educational systems of Flanders and Wallonia,
it is worth knowing that the latter is more focused on projects and skills
rather than exams (Pires, 2018). This approach integrates more of the real
world practice into the learning process with the aim of producing learners
with specific skills in certain vocations.
Brussels-Capital:
It is special in that the Brussels-Capital Region is multilingual and

multicultural. The diversity of the city’s population is evident in the
secondary schools which are offered in French, Dutch and sometimes in
English. In order to address the needs of the learners with diverse language
experiences, schools use the bilingual or trilingual education systems
(Flanders, 2015). This multicultural environment impacts on educational
learning model, high academic achievements, and multilingualism..
References
 Flanders, T. (2015). The Flemish Education System: An
Overview. Education Policy Review, 11(2), 89-101.
 Pires, L. (2018). Educational Policies in Wallonia: An Analysis. European

Journal of Education, 53(4), 527-540.
 Verhoeven, L. (2009). Language development and education in

Flanders. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 30(5),
429-442.
Regional Education Differences in Belgium: Higher Secondary
Education
The differences in the organization of the higher secondary education in

Belgium are the reflection of the local educational institutions and priorities.
Flanders:
University preparation courses and vocational courses for direct

employment are available in Flanders’ higher secondary education which is
for students aged between 18 and 22 years. Tight academic programs are
meant to prepare students for higher learning in such careers as engineering
and law (Van den Branden, 2016). The professional programs which often
lead to the immediate employment focus on the sectorial training and skills
and orientations.
Wallonia:
General, technical and vocational streams are also offered in the higher
secondary education in Wallonia. While technical and vocational programs
are supposed to equip the students with real skills and practical experience,
the general education track prepares pupils for university. To enhance the job
readiness, Wallonian schools often incorporate internships and project based
learning particularly in vocational education (Robeyns, 2014). This strategy
shows a commitment to the acquisition of practical skills alongside academic
achievements.
Brussels-Capital:
Since the programs are in French, Dutch and sometimes in English, the
higher secondary education in the city also portrays the diverse population.
This allows for a bilingual approach that takes into consideration the global
perspective while at the same time catering for the needs of the diverse
student population. In line with the global outlook of the region, students are
able to choose from a variety of courses that would enable them to study in
both local and international universities (Baudoux, 2020).
References
 Baudoux, R. (2020). Higher Education in Brussels: A Comparative
Analysis. European Journal of Education and Practice, 11(2), 143-159.
 Robeyns, I. (2014). Educational Inequality in Wallonia: Challenges and

Solutions. International Journal of Educational Development, 38(1), 58-
67.
 Van den Branden, K. (2016). Higher Education in Flanders: Trends and

Developments. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management,
38(3), 290-305.

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Regional Education Differences in Belgium: Secondary

In Flanders, secondary education is defined for children of ages 12-18 and is

It is special in that the Brussels-Capital Region is multilingual and

 Pires, L. (2018). Educational Policies in Wallonia: An Analysis. European

 Verhoeven, L. (2009). Language development and education in

The differences in the organization of the higher secondary education in

University preparation courses and vocational courses for direct

 Robeyns, I. (2014). Educational Inequality in Wallonia: Challenges and

 Van den Branden, K. (2016). Higher Education in Flanders: Trends and

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