Brussels, Belgium, 21 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – French Community Education Minister Valérie Glatigny has called for an “electroshock” in French-speaking schools, arguing that two decades of declining results require higher academic standards and stronger intervention. Her comments come as the government advances Belgian education reform measures affecting examinations, basic skills and support for struggling pupils.
Glatigny says school results have declined for 20 years
Glatigny, from the liberal Reformist Movement (MR), said French-speaking education had continued to lose ground despite some areas of progress.
“There are positive points, but overall we have been declining for the past 20 years,” she told The Brussels Times in an interview published on 21 September.
“We need to create an ‘electroshock’,” Glatigny added, arguing against making only limited adjustments to the existing system.
The latest PISA results cited in the interview put French-speaking Belgian 15-year-olds at 489 points in mathematics, 479 in reading and 491 in science. The results form part of the minister’s case for concentrating policy on fundamental academic skills.
Exam pass requirements will increase in June 2027
A major element of the Belgian education reform will take effect in June 2027.
For the CEB qualification at the end of primary school, pupils will need at least 50% in every assessed subject and a 60% overall average. CE1D and CESS external examinations will require a 60% threshold. The changes have been definitively approved by the Parliament of the French Community.
The government says higher standards will be accompanied by additional assistance rather than simply making examinations harder.
Glatigny’s office says €25 million is being invested in personalised support, providing 460 additional full-time-equivalent positions across primary education and the first year of secondary school.
“It makes no sense to raise the pass threshold if we do not increase support for pupils,” Glatigny said when announcing the measures.
New CLÉ test targets reading, writing and mathematics
Schools are also introducing the CLÉ test for pupils at the beginning of their fourth year of primary education. It assesses calculation, reading and writing but is not a pass-or-fail examination and does not count towards school reports.
Instead, teachers will use the results to identify weaknesses earlier and target additional support. Parents will receive individual reports on their child’s progress.
The measure comes alongside changes to first-year secondary education, where the government has increased the emphasis on core subjects, including five hours of mathematics and six hours covering French and ancient languages.
Education reforms face opposition from teachers
The changes are being introduced amid significant tension with sections of the teaching profession.
The French-speaking government expects education to contribute €86.7 million in savings in 2026, including €35 million linked to increasing teaching hours for some secondary teachers and €15 million from changes to sick-leave arrangements.
Glatigny defended the broader programme, saying: “I am doing this for the next generation.” She argued that difficult measures were necessary to maintain funding for teachers, pupil support and school infrastructure while controlling public debt.
Higher standards will take effect from 2027
The first major test of the new certification standards comes in June 2027, when the higher CEB, CE1D and CESS thresholds apply.
The government’s Belgian education reform will therefore combine higher examination requirements with earlier assessment and increased personalised support, as Glatigny seeks to reverse the long-term decline she says requires an educational “electroshock”.
