Belgium’s Christian and Socialist teaching unions left a meeting with Education Minister Valérie Glatigny on Tuesday morning feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
The meeting, held after the summer break, focused on contentious topics such as extending the common core curriculum, changes to rules on grade repetition, and a proposed shift from permanent appointments for teachers to indefinite-term contracts.
“The minister refuses to listen to anything. She remains fixated on her roadmap,” said Adrien Rosman, secretary of the Setca-SEL union, following the discussions.
For the unions, Minister Glatigny’s policies threaten to deepen inequality in schools. They argue that her proposals on the common core, grade repetition, and tougher pass rates for standardised exams stand in stark contrast to the goals of the Pact for Excellence in Education.
“Her ideas will have profoundly negative consequences for schools. The real problem is we’ll only see the damage in a few years, long after she and her party’s leader are gone,” warned Roland Lahaye, general secretary of the CSC-Enseignement union.
Teachers’ unions plan to participate in two nationwide protests planned for September and October. However, any education-specific actions are unlikely before the All Saints break, as unions are set to consult their members beforehand.
“It’s clear we cannot continue this year without responding to the absurd policies being put forward,” cautioned Pierre Bouillon, community secretary of the CGSP-Enseignement union.
