Belgium has the 3rd best education system in the world, with Brussels boasting extensive public and private schools that offer high-quality education. Like most European countries, education is free and compulsory for kids up to the age of 18 years. The school system comprises three main stages:
Compulsory schooling officially begins after nursery school. Before that, kids have to attend preschool from the age of two to six years in either a state-owned or private-owned preschool. Generally, state-owned schools are funded by the government. Still, both types offer children an ideal setting for growth and development. Additionally, more than 90% of the children in Brussels attend nursery education before attending primary schooling.
Primary education in Brussels starts from six years to 12 years. The education cycle is as follows:
During the six years of primary schooling, children focus on subjects such as mathematics, reading, and writing. Other broad topics covered include biology, history, music, arts, among others. Generally, school starts at 8:30 am and ends at 3:30 pm. Moreover, most schools provide lunch, including public schools. The only expenses that parents incur in public schools are for school trips, purchase of certain books, and sporting activities.
Once a child completes primary school, they have to sit for a Certificate of Basic Studies (CEB - Certificate d’etudes de base) test. Successful completion of the test allows the student to progress to secondary school, which takes place for six years. In those six years, students undergo four classes of study, which include general education, vocational training, technical, and art studies. All these tiers aid the child to progress to tertiary education except vocational training. Furthermore, there are immersion schools that offer students the opportunity to learn specific courses.
Schools in Brussels are either public, private, or international. Public schools are an excellent option for those who speak Flemish or French. Additionally, they are free and provide quality education. Religious institutions majorly run private schools in conjunction with the Belgium government. These schools are cheaper compared to international schools. Additionally, they offer more extensive options for extra-curricular activities compared to public schools. Many international schools in Brussels provide a variety of curriculums, including the British, American, German, French, Netherland or International Baccalaureate.
Edarabia showcases all private schools in Brussels through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.
Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Brussels tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.
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