A new initiative by Odisee University College, Teach for Belgium, and Catholic Education Flanders aims to equip and retain new teachers in Brussels’ challenging educational context, the organisers announced at a press conference on Thursday at Sint-Lukas Art School in Schaerbeek.
Starting this school year, 60 career switchers entering primary and secondary education will benefit from a four-day intensive training programme designed to strengthen their teaching skills, according to Bruno Vanobbergen, Director-General of Catholic Education Flanders. The pilot project aims to address both teacher shortages and high dropout rates among educators.
“Teacher attrition is alarmingly high,” Vanobbergen said. “One in five new teachers quits after just one year, rising to one in three among career switchers. To tackle the teacher shortage, we need not only new hires but also better retention strategies. This is especially critical in Brussels, where urban challenges add an extra layer of difficulty.”
On Thursday, the first group of 12 career switchers began their training with Teach for Belgium, a non-profit organisation that has been coaching and supporting education professionals since 2013.
The training focuses on practical skills, explained Florence Thiébaut, Head of Educational Partnerships at Teach for Belgium. “Through activities like role-playing, participants learn essential classroom management skills—how to start a lesson effectively, engage pupils immediately, and respond to inappropriate behaviour.”
Odisee University College contributes by providing a compact pedagogical foundation covering fundamental teaching principles. It also encourages career switchers to pursue a full teacher training course after completing the four-day programme.
The initiative will train 60 participants this school year, offering the programme in four separate sessions to accommodate those who begin teaching later in the academic year.
