Education and training: frozen programmes, infrastructure on hold

Education and training: a major regional issue

Education and vocational training are a central issue for the Brussels-Capital Region. With a youth unemployment rate of approximately 28%, a dense school network of 700 schools and a regional vocational training body (Bruxelles Formation) that serves 18,000 trainees per year, education and training policies are essential levers for socio-economic integration.

In Belgium, compulsory education falls under the competence of the Communities (French, Flemish, German-speaking). However, the Brussels-Capital Region exercises its own competences in vocational training, school infrastructure, educational coordination and bilingual projects. These competences are directly affected by the caretaker freeze.

Bruxelles Formation: programmes on hold

The role

Bruxelles Formation is the regional public body for vocational training. It offers qualifying training in dozens of occupations -- construction, digital, languages, management, healthcare -- aimed at Brussels jobseekers. The body works in partnership with Actiris, VDAB Brussels and numerous accredited training providers.

What is blocked

Existing training programmes are being continued, but no new programme can be launched:

• No new training courses in sectors with labour shortages (digital, green transition, healthcare)
• No adaptation of existing programmes to labour market changes
• No new partnerships with private training providers
• No strengthening of skills validation mechanisms
• No increase in the number of places on the most in-demand courses

For a region where youth unemployment exceeds 28%, the freeze on training policy constitutes a structural handicap.

Source: Bruxelles Formation, activity report 2024; Actiris, Brussels labour market overview 2025.

School infrastructure: blocked renovations

The situation

The Brussels school estate is ageing. Many buildings date from the early 20th century and require significant renovation: thermal insulation, safety standard compliance, PRM accessibility, digital equipment. Perspective.brussels estimates that over 100 school buildings require priority intervention.

What is suspended

School renovation projects that had not been formally committed (public procurement launched, budgets allocated) before June 2024 are blocked:

• No new renovation projects financed by the Region
• No investment in the energy efficiency of Brussels schools
• No fire safety upgrades for the oldest buildings
• No creation of new school places in demographically growing neighbourhoods

The municipalities, which manage part of the school estate, are also constrained in their investments by the regional budget situation.

Source: Perspective.brussels, school facilities monitoring, 2025; IBSA, school demographic data.

Bilingual education: suspended pilot projects

The context

Brussels is an officially bilingual region (French-Dutch), but in practice bilingualism is declining. Knowledge of Dutch is nevertheless a considerable asset on the Brussels job market, and bilingual education is a lever for social cohesion in a linguistically diverse city.

Before June 2024, the Region had launched consultations and pilot projects aimed at strengthening bilingual education, in collaboration with the Communities. These initiatives are suspended.

What is blocked

• No launch of new bilingual education pilot projects
• No regional funding for language bridging initiatives in schools
• No enhanced coordination between the French Community and the Flemish Community on the bilingual school offering
• No support for schools wishing to develop immersion programmes

Source: Brupartners, opinion on bilingual education in Brussels, 2024; VGC, report on Dutch in Brussels.

Subsidies for innovative education projects

Regional subsidy budgets for innovative education projects -- digital learning in schools, tackling school dropout, youth employment insertion -- are frozen:

• No new regional calls for proposals in the education field
• No funding for pedagogical experiments
• No additional support for schools in priority neighbourhoods
• No investment in digital educational tools

Source: COCOF, report on education policies, 2025; Bruxelles Formation, strategic note 2025.

What continues to function

Existing training

Training programmes launched before June 2024 continue to be delivered. Enrolled trainees continue their training pathways. Bruxelles Formation and its partners ensure service continuity.

Community education

The French and Flemish Communities continue to fully exercise their competences in compulsory education. Schools operate, teachers are in place, and curricula are delivered.

Committed projects

School renovation projects whose public procurement had been launched before June 2024 continue normally.

The populations most affected

The freeze on education and training mechanisms primarily affects:

• Young jobseekers who cannot find training suited to their career plans
• Workers in career transition who cannot access new qualifying programmes
• Pupils in dilapidated schools studying in deteriorating material conditions
• Families in growing neighbourhoods who lack school places
• Non-bilingual Brussels youth whose job market prospects are reduced

Outlook

Education and training constitute the most cost-effective long-term investment for a region facing high structural unemployment. Each month without an active training policy represents skills not acquired, jobs not filled and young people remaining distant from the labour market.

The freeze on school renovations also has long-term consequences: buildings deteriorate, renovation costs increase and learning conditions worsen for pupils.

Main sources: Bruxelles Formation, activity report 2024; Actiris, labour market 2025; Perspective.brussels, facilities monitoring; IBSA, Brussels socio-economic indicators.