Not all colleagues have children enrolled in the Evere site of Brussels European School II, but for those who have, news are never enough. Evere was set in temporary facilities until a fully-fledged school would be constructed. While the temporary facilities are not perfect, they provide enough quality for children and education. Continue reading Another episode in the Evere European school saga
European Schools
Brussels European Schools – problems and solutions
It is becoming a norm that the Belgian authorities do not provide timely official information in writing about European Schools. Nevertheless, the Secretary General of the European Schools has confirmed it orally: the 5th school[*] in Neder-Over-Heembeek won’t be available in 2028 as originally planned, but in late 2030. Continue reading Brussels European Schools – problems and solutions
European Schools – It’s not about asking for extra budget
Some of the problems of European Schools are difficult to solve: perhaps the biggest are the lack of career perspectives in general for the teachers (but particularly for those recruited locally e.g. in Ispra) requiring a structural organizational change, and the long-standing overcrowding in Brussels requiring substantial investment. But, it’s not simply enough to throw money at the problems, greater reform is needed to future-proof the European School education system. Continue reading European Schools – It’s not about asking for extra budget
Help a European School to stay on the map!
*Update 15.05.2024 Neder-Over-Heembeek won’t be available in 2028 as originally planned, but in late 2030.*
Original article: Brussels staff with kids in European Schools lose sleep every time their kids’ school is threatened with closure or transfer. If you are one of them, please send the text below and share the action with others. If it’s not your school this time, it could well be next time! The European School of Evere is presented as a permanent solution in a temporary building. Continue reading Help a European School to stay on the map!
European Parliament requests changes in European Schools governance
*Update 18.03.2024 See European Parliament REPORT on the system of European Schools: state of play, challenges and perspectives.* Original article: Any colleague with children in European Schools realizes how many aspects need to be improved, but also looks with concern at any proposals for change.
The European Parliament took the initiative to launch a study on the European Schools in 2021. This was a follow-up to their 2011 report and subsequent European Parliament resolution. Various stakeholders were consulted, including students, parents and the European Commission. Continue reading European Parliament requests changes in European Schools governance
A constructive debate on the Future of the Brussels’ European Schools
In our earlier article on this matter we raised concerns over the two models described in the first draft of the paper on the “Reflections on the future structure of the Brussels European Schools”. Following the meeting of the Enlarged group of the Steering Committee Brussels on 31 May 2022, this paper was revised and following its publication, a group of parents from the Brussels’ European School 2 – Woluwe, took on the task of drafting a document that not only highlighted the raised issues in detail, but also went the extra step and constructively proposed a long-term solution for the current situation. Continue reading A constructive debate on the Future of the Brussels’ European Schools
Is this the solution to the European Schools overcrowding problem?
The Secretary General of the European Schools has recently started a discussion on the future of the European schools. To kick off the debate, a first draft of a paper on “Reflections on the future structure of the Brussels European Schools” (Ref.: 2022-05-D-en_1)” was presented and discussed at the meeting of the Enlarged group of the Steering Committee Brussels on 31 May 2022. Continue reading Is this the solution to the European Schools overcrowding problem?
European Schools’ locally hired teachers: true tightrope walkers
One may rightfully assume that employees in the EU are protected by laws and instruments to limit precariousness. And while we know that in the European Commission we can find countless perverse counter examples, what you probably don’t know is that the European Schools (EURSC) take this to the next level. EURSC locally recruited teachers (LRT) find themselves in a legal void that makes their jobs and lives a constant walk on a net free tightrope… Continue reading European Schools’ locally hired teachers: true tightrope walkers
Unreliable European school calendar
Imagine that an educational institution sets a calendar at the beginning of the school year, clearly detailing the start, holidays and end of the course, but that one month before its end, announces that the course will be cut by two weeks, without any explanation.
You can stop imagining because this surreal situation is actually going on at the European School of Ixelles in Brussels. On 4/05/2022, the school notified that pupils from S1 to S4 would end their school year on 21/06/2022 instead of the planned date, 1/07/2022. The European School of Uccle in Brussels also announced it on 13/05/2022, at least providing an explanation: they need the full school and all the teachers to organize the Bac oral examinations. Continue reading Unreliable European school calendar
The new European School of Brussels
The European Schools of Brussels have been under great stress for a long period of 10 years due to overcrowding.
The inaction of the Belgium state to comply with its legal obligations to provide a new school, coupled with the lack of real pressure from the European Commission for it to do so, led to an extreme situation that needs very urgent attention. Continue reading The new European School of Brussels
