Enrolments for English and French courses at the Brussels Adult Education Centre (CVO Brussel) have plunged from 842 students to just ten following recent funding cuts by Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA), as reported by Bruzz.
The reforms, announced by Minister Demir earlier this summer, are intended to save the Flemish government €33 million. Courses deemed “hobby programmes” by the government—such as photography, fashion, cooking, and language learning—have seen their fees nearly triple from €1.50 to €4 per hour. Meanwhile, courses for professions in high demand, such as child care or nursing, have become significantly cheaper.
The steep price hikes have caused an unprecedented drop in enrolments at CVO Brussel. Starting Monday, French and English courses will commence with student numbers reduced to just ten, according to local media outlet Bruzz.
Other adult education centres have also reported declines. CVO Semper, which begins its new academic year in mid-September, has already seen the number of students for French courses drop by 909, a 30% decrease. For English courses, enrolments have halved to 346 students.
At CVO Brussel, staff are struggling to understand the rationale behind the changes. “For a standard module of 120 hours, the new cost amounts to €480,” said Birgit Steurs, the centre’s deputy director of languages. “Time and again, we heard from prospective students that they simply cannot afford it.”
The reforms have sparked concern that adult education, particularly in languages, is becoming inaccessible to many.
