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A large-scale protest involving nearly 5,000 students was held in Brussels at the call of the Federation of French-speaking Students (FEF), which represents students at French-speaking higher education institutions in Belgium.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Belgian media cited the protest organizers and security services as saying this.
According to the reports, demonstrators gathered outside Brussels Central railway station, blocked the city’s main transport arteries and marched toward the headquarters of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation government. The main reason for the protest was the federation’s planned higher education reforms, particularly the decision to increase the annual tuition fee, known as the minerval, from 835 euros to 1,194 euros. Students also opposed stricter academic performance criteria that limit the duration of studies under proposed changes to the Landscape decree.
Participants said a sharp rise in housing rents, transport, food and study materials amid inflation had worsened students’ social conditions. Trade unions representing education workers and teachers’ associations also joined the march in support of the students’ demands.
The Wallonia-Brussels Federation is Belgium’s French-speaking community, responsible for key areas including education and culture. Tuition fees and academic progress rules have become recurring points of debate among students and education staff as institutions seek to address rising costs while maintaining access to higher education.
