Several thousand French-speaking teachers are expected to take to the streets of Brussels on Thursday (today) to once again express their dissatisfaction with the education system – the fifth strike action in just over a year.
The reason for the protest is a draft of the coalition agreement in French-speaking education, which according to trade unions will have a negative impact on the rights of teachers.
The demonstration will be organised by the socialist and liberal trade unions. According to them, the agreement does not solve the ongoing problem: there is, among other things, an administrative overload and an unsustainable student-teacher ratio, causing classes to be overcrowded.
Complementary demonstrations
The protestors will meet at Brussels Midi/Zuid Station at 09:30 on Thursday. From there, they will march towards the headquarters of the parties which make up the French-speaking Community Government (also known as the Wallonia-Brussels Federation) and end their demonstrations in front of its government, on Place Surlet de Choker.
At the same time, the Christian trade union organised another "complementary" demonstration, which starts at Place Albertine, near the Central Station, from 10:00. They will likely join the other parade when it passes and end the demonstration together. In a joint press release, the unions present these two separate gatherings as "complementary," and not opposed.
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In addition to the decree on the evaluation of teachers, trade unions denounce the administrative overload imposed on teachers, the uncertainties, the non-respect of the maximum size of certain classes, and the lack of support for psycho-medico-social centres.
Several French-speaking schools will also close their doors on Thursday, such as in the Brussels municipality of Saint-Gilles, for example. "All community schools will be on strike here on Thursday," said City Councillor of Education, Thierry Van Campenhout.
It is however not clear how many Brussels schools will strike on Thursday.
