Organisation of the education system in the German-speaking Community of Belgium 2009/2010 BE de European Commission EURYBASE BELGIUM – German-speaking Community 1. POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND AND TRENDS ................................ 7 1.1. Historical overview...................................................................................................... 7 1.2. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies ...................................................................... 9 1.2.1. Federal Institutions .............................................................................................. 9 1.2.2. The Institutions of Communities and Regions.................................................. 10 1.2.3. Provinces ............................................................................................................ 12 1.2.4. Municipalities ..................................................................................................... 13 1.3. Religions .................................................................................................................... 13 1.4. Official and Minority Languages .............................................................................. 13 1.5. Demographic Situation ............................................................................................ 15 1.6. Economic Situation................................................................................................... 16 1.7. Statistics..................................................................................................................... 17 1.7.1. Demographic Indicators : DG (Since 1995) :..................................................... 18 1.7.2. Demographic Indicators : Belgium, Regions and DG ....................................... 18 1.7.3. Age Groups (DG) ................................................................................................ 18 1.7.4. Foreign Population : Belgium, Regions, DG ...................................................... 19 1.7.5. Employment in Public and Private Sectors (2006)............................................ 19 1.7.6. Unemployment .................................................................................................. 20 1.7.7. Evolution of the Activity Structure 1997 - 2007................................................ 21 1.7.8. Per-Capita-Income ............................................................................................. 21 1.7.9. Election Results (DG Parliament) ....................................................................... 22 2. GENERAL ORGANISATION OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATION.......................................................................................................................... 23 2.1. Historical Overview ................................................................................................... 23 2.1.1. From Independence to World War I : 1830 – 1919 ........................................... 23 2.1.2. From World War I to cultural autonomy : 1920 – 1970..................................... 24 2.1.3. Educational reform............................................................................................. 25 2.1.4. The Devolution of Power in Education Matters to the Communities.............. 26 2.1.5. Development of Compulsory Education........................................................... 27 2.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments ......................................................... 27 2.3. Fundamental Principles and Basic Legislation ........................................................ 28 2.3.1. Pedagogical Freedom - School Networks......................................................... 29 2.3.2. No Fees in Pre-primary, Primary and Secondary Schools................................. 30 2.3.3. Co-education...................................................................................................... 31 2.3.4. Aims and Objectives .......................................................................................... 31 2.4. General Structure and Defining Moments in Educational Guidance ..................... 32 2.4.1. General Structure ............................................................................................... 32 2.4.2. Defining Moments in Educational Guidance.................................................... 34 2.5. Compulsory Education ............................................................................................. 34 2.6. General Administration ............................................................................................ 35 2.6.1. General Administration at National Level......................................................... 35 2.6.2. General Administration at Regional Level ........................................................ 35 2.6.3. General Administration at Local Level .............................................................. 36 2.6.4. Educational Institutions, Administration, Management .................................. 36 2.7. Internal and External Consultation .......................................................................... 39 2.7.1. Internal Consultation ......................................................................................... 39 2.7.2. Consultation Involving Players in Society at Large........................................... 42 2.8. Methods of Financing Education ............................................................................. 42 1 EURYBASE BELGIUM – German-speaking Community 2.8.1. Private Funds...................................................................................................... 43 2.8.2. School Funding .................................................................................................. 43 2.8.3. Positive Discrimination ...................................................................................... 43 2.8.4. Funding Conditions ........................................................................................... 44 2.9. Statistics..................................................................................................................... 45 3. PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION .............................................................................................. 47 3.1. Historical Overview ................................................................................................... 47 3.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments ......................................................... 48 3.3. Specific Legislative Framework ................................................................................ 48 3.4. General Objectives.................................................................................................... 48 3.5. Geographical Accessibility........................................................................................ 49 3.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of Institution................................................ 49 3.7. Financial Support for Pupils' Families ...................................................................... 50 3.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Children ...................................................................... 50 3.9. Organisation of Time ................................................................................................ 50 3.9.1. Organisation of the Year.................................................................................... 51 3.9.2. Weekly and Daily Time-Table ............................................................................ 51 3.10. Curriculum, Types of Activity, Number of Hours ................................................... 51 3.11. Teaching Methods and Materials ........................................................................... 52 3.12. Evaluation of Children ............................................................................................ 53 3.12.1. Evaluation by Teachers .................................................................................... 53 3.12.2. Evaluation by Psycho-Medizinisch-Soziales Zentrum .................................... 53 3.13. Support Facilities .................................................................................................... 54 3.13.1. The Psycho-Medizinisch-Soziales Zentrum (PMS-Centre).............................. 54 3.13.2. Medical care ..................................................................................................... 54 3.14. Private Sector Provision.......................................................................................... 54 3.15. Organisational Variations and Alternative Structures........................................... 54 4. PRIMARY EDUCATION...................................................................................................... 56 4.1. Historical Overview ................................................................................................... 56 4.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments ......................................................... 57 4.3. Specific Legislative Framework ................................................................................ 57 4.4. General Objectives.................................................................................................... 57 4.4.1. DG Missions for Schools..................................................................................... 58 4.4.2. Essential Skills, Skills Attainment