Belgian high school protests enter fourth day amid escalating tensions

In Brussels, a handful of high-school students have been occupying the front of the Athénée Charles Janssens for four days, holding a banner that declares they are “still angry.” While acknowledging the parallel protests in France, they insist their demands are specific to the French-speaking region of Belgium. Their opposition targets a legislative decree adopted on June 5 by the Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, which outlines a €500 million reduction in education spending by 2029.

The 2025 education budget for the region totals €10.65 billion, making the cuts a significant proportion. The students have been monitoring the school’s entrances and have kept the protest largely non-violent, though the atmosphere has grown more tense. Their actions reflect broader discontent within the education community over the austerity measures.