Nearly 5,000 Students March in Brussels to Oppose Tuition Hikes and New Progress Rules

On Wednesday, nearly five thousand students from universities and higher-education colleges assembled in Brussels to voice opposition to planned tuition hikes and tighter academic progression standards in the French-speaking Wallonia-Brussels region. The rally, led by the Fédération des Étudiants Francophones, moved from Brussels Central Station to the regional government’s headquarters, where union representatives presented demands for a fee freeze, revised progression deadlines, and greater subsidies for housing and meals.

The proposed reform would raise annual enrollment fees from €835 to €1,194 and impose stricter limits on repeating years or carrying credits. Participants also highlighted rising living costs, including housing, transport, food, and study materials. Education unions and teachers’ associations supported the students, arguing that funding shortfalls should be addressed through the state budget rather than increased student charges. Regional officials have defended the measures as necessary for modernising the higher-education system and improving graduation rates, with parliamentary debate ongoing.