Types of Schools
There are 3 main types of schools in Belgium each with its own governing body or councils that facilitate policy. Although there is a core curriculum set by the government authorities, schools develop their own pedagogical plans, teaching methods, curriculum, timetables and appoint their own staff. These will vary between systems as to allow schools to govern themselves on the basis of freedom of education. This is the Belgians constitutional right to choose their own education. In theory this should lead to competition between schools to persuade students to attend as students parents will want their children to attend the best school within their beliefs system.
The types of schools are as follows
The Community Education network: This system acts under the authority of the language community and is governed by the Community Educational Council. Schools in this network are organized in groups and within these groups decide on operational educational policies for its members. These school include 16% of the primary and secondary students in Flemish Belgium.
Publicly funded and publicly managed schools: These schools are organized by either local authorities (cities or municipalities) or provincial authorities. These schools make up approximately 22% of primary students and 8% of secondary students in Flanders.
Publicly funded and privately managed schools: These are school offering religious education, most of which are Catholic. The Catholic schools can be governed by dioceses, congregations or other organizations in Flanders all are represented by the Flemish Secretariat for Catholic Education. Schools from other denominations are not under a larger Umbrella organization with exception to the Protestant-Christian Education Board. These school make up 60% of students in Primary education and 75 % of students in secondary education in Flanders. Also included in this category are school with no denomination like Freinet and Montessori.
Flemish Government
The community and regional governments in Flanders decided to merge in 1980 resulting in a single Flemish government for all community and regional matters. Although it is the regional government that is responsible for education, it is worth noting the centralized nature of the Flemish government compared to the Wallonia as a possible source for improved educational achievement in the area.
The types of schools are as follows
The Community Education network: This system acts under the authority of the language community and is governed by the Community Educational Council. Schools in this network are organized in groups and within these groups decide on operational educational policies for its members. These school include 16% of the primary and secondary students in Flemish Belgium.
Publicly funded and publicly managed schools: These schools are organized by either local authorities (cities or municipalities) or provincial authorities. These schools make up approximately 22% of primary students and 8% of secondary students in Flanders.
Publicly funded and privately managed schools: These are school offering religious education, most of which are Catholic. The Catholic schools can be governed by dioceses, congregations or other organizations in Flanders all are represented by the Flemish Secretariat for Catholic Education. Schools from other denominations are not under a larger Umbrella organization with exception to the Protestant-Christian Education Board. These school make up 60% of students in Primary education and 75 % of students in secondary education in Flanders. Also included in this category are school with no denomination like Freinet and Montessori.
Flemish Government
The community and regional governments in Flanders decided to merge in 1980 resulting in a single Flemish government for all community and regional matters. Although it is the regional government that is responsible for education, it is worth noting the centralized nature of the Flemish government compared to the Wallonia as a possible source for improved educational achievement in the area.