More than 1.2 million Flemish children and young people are returning to school this morning.
In pre-school education (mainstream and special needs), there were around 256,900 registered pupils last year. In primary education the figure was 456,400 pupils. Secondary education (mainstream and special) counted 501,900 pupils. For this year it’s too early to provide accurate figures.
For 170,000 members of the teaching staff, too, the new 2026–2027 school year begins today. They have been busy with the preparations for some time now.
Minister Demir appeals to parents and grandparents
On social media site Facebook Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir (Flemish nationalist N-VA) has wished everyone a happy new school year. It will be a challenging school year, given the many changes being introduced.
“We are still giving young people a good foundation. But we need to do better. And we are doing everything we can to get back on the right track,” she writes.
Demir’s main appeal is for people to work together. “It reminds me of the famous words of the late John F. Kennedy: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.’"
“In that same spirit, I would like to ask parents, grandparents, businesses and everyone who cares deeply about education: don’t just ask what education can do for your children, but also what you can do for our education system.”
What are the changes?
Nursery and primary schools must introduce nearly 1,000 new minimum learning goals (what pupils must know and be able to do) over the next four years.
In Year 2, separate language classes will be introduced for non-Dutch-speaking newcomers.
In secondary education, staff training days have been abolished and there will also be fewer assessment days.
Today is already a full school day, and this will also be the case for the last day of term.
In future every school must have a behavioural expert on the staff to help create a calmer environment and establish routines in and around the classroom.