After a week back at school for students in French-speaking education, more than 1.2 million children and young people in Flemish schools return to the classroom today, marking the start of the new academic year.
This year, Flemish primary schools begin using the new knowledge-based curriculum standards. While these updated goals will not become mandatory for the first three years of primary school until 2026-2027, education leaders are treating this as a major shift.
Koen Pelleriaux, the CEO of GO! Education of the Flemish Community, describes the new curriculum as a considerable transformation. Teachers are reportedly eager to engage with it, and educational networks are developing tools to assist them.
The GO! network plans to create lesson templates over the next two years, while OVSG is preparing sets of themed guides to inspire lesson planning.
A core focus of the reform is the emphasis on a knowledge-rich curriculum. Alongside this, more classroom discipline is being called for—a need highlighted by Bruno Vanobbergen, Director-General of Catholic Education Flanders. He argues that greater structure is key to fostering a safe school environment for everyone.
Developing the new curriculum goals was a major task last school year. This year, the priority shifts to crafting a "teacher pact."
Education organisations are urging immediate discussions with unions and other stakeholders to modernise teacher employment conditions. This, they argue, is essential for making the profession more attractive and tackling the teacher shortage.
One of the most tangible changes for students this year is the introduction of a smartphone ban in primary and secondary schools. For pupils in the final years of secondary education, the ban applies only during lessons, with schools allowed to decide whether phones can be used outside class hours.
