1. The education system in the Belgian French Community (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles)

2. General overview The education system
Steering of the education system and the decree « Missions »
Structure of the education system in WBF
Education in WBF and Technical and Vocational Training :
Full-time secondary education
Dual Vocational Education and Training
Social Advancement Education
Advanced Technologies Centers
Questions and answers

3. 1. The education system Some figures :
Total budget of the WBF : 8,8 billion euros
of which some 70% for education (6,1 billion)
of which 85,5% for teacher’s salaries
Compulsory education :
pupils
teachers
2839 schools

4. Two fundamental freedoms in the Belgian Constitution : freedom of choice and freedom of organisation in education
 Education system characterised by coexisting education networks, depending on the organising authority. Those are either public or grant-aided.

5. 2. Steering of the education system
Early 90’s : international surveys (OECD, PISA) show important educational disparities in the system
Reforms aimed at more equity and efficiency in the system : decree « Missions », reform of teachers initial and continued training, Steering Committee…

6. 24/07/97 : Decree on the missions of schools
- Objectives of compulsory education (art.6):
Promote self-confidence and the development of each student as an individual;
Enable all students to assimilate knowledge and acquire the competencies that qualify them to learn
throughout their lives and play an active role in economic, social, and cultural life;
Prepare all students to be responsible citizens that are capable of contributing to the development
of a society that is democratic, cohesive, pluralist, and open to other cultures;
Ensure equal opportunities to all students as regards their social emancipation.

7. Structures for achieving those objectives :
Promotion of success at school
Competency frameworks
Participation council (internal structure of schools with representatives of school head, teachers, parents, and pupils)
27/03/2002 : decree on steering
Implementation of the « missions » decree
Intended to improve efficency and equity in the system after OECD and PISA surveys
Set up a Steering Committee (common for all education networks)
Set up indicators for the system
External evaluations
etc.

8. 3. Structure of the education system in WBF:
Compulsory and free of charge until 18 years old
Basic education
Pre-primary school : 2,5 – 6 years old
Primary school : years old
Secondary education
Common 1st level (2 years) for pupils holding the certificate of primary education. Differentiated first level organised for the others.
2nd and 3rd levels :
- Transition stream : general, technical or artistical
- Qualification stream : technical, vocational or artistical
Dual vocational education and training
Higher education (short term : 3 or 4 years or long term : min 5 years)
Social Advancement Education : all levels : from CEB to Master

9. 4. Education in WBF and technical and vocational training
Full-time education : 40 sem/an
2nd and 3rd levels :
Transition stream : general, technical or artistical : 28 to 36h/week
Qualification stream : technical, vocational or artistical : 30 to 36h/week
The contents of the technical training are determined on base of jobs profiles, in terms of skills.

10. Transition stream (general, technical or artistical)
General education :
no technical courses
Technical or artistical education in the transition stream :
few technical courses : 7 to 11h/week
no training courses

11. Qualification stream (technical, vocational or artistical)
Technical or artistical education in the qualification stream :
Technical courses : 14 to 18h/week
Training courses at 3rd level
Vocational education :
Technical courses and courses of professional practice : 16 to 22h/week

12. Certificates
EVERY student gets the CESS (the upper secondary education certificate : access to higher education)
after the 6 years of studies or after the 7th year in vocational education
Furthermore, the students in the qualification stream get a Qualification Certificate (access to the profession for the regulated occupations)

13. Dual Vocational Education and Training (decree of 3rd July 1991)
wants to offer young people an alternative to traditional education forms of full-time education: combine general education (about 15 hours at school) and professional practice.
Job contract is compulsory
In a CEFA (Centre d’Education et de formation en Alternance)
Validation of learning outcomes and skills.

14. Social Advancement Education (decree of 16th April 1991)
Education system with modules
Lifelong learning
Wide range of training (secondary or higher education)
adults (but the minimum age can be 15)
Organised in day-time or shifts
Validation of learning outcomes and skills
Certificates : from CEB to Master, as well as professionalizing bachelors.

15. 5. CTA (Advanced Technologies Centers)
Advanced equipements
Trainings for students, teachers, job seekers, workers
Inter-network structure
Link with professionnal sectors

16. 5. Questions ?
…Thank you for your attention.