In Belgium, education is a competence of the Communities (Wallonia-Brussels Federation and Flemish Community), not the federal level. The 2024 debates focus on the teacher shortage, declining results highlighted by PISA surveys, free schooling and the "Pacte d'excellence" in the French-speaking south. Two poles emerge: more public funding, free schooling and higher teacher pay on one side, more school autonomy, freedom of choice and quality standards on the other.
In short
"Autonomy / private" poleAutonomy / private
"Public funding" polePublic funding
UpdatedJun 22, 2026
Where the parties stand on Education
Autonomy / privatePublic funding
#Party & stancePositionPole
1PSPSFRThe PS backs progressive free schooling, free meals in disadvantaged schools and keeping the "Pacte d'excellence", with more public funding for education.80+
2PTBPTB·PVDAFR·NL⚑ Radical stanceThe PTB wants fully free public schooling (materials, meals, trips), smaller classes and massive recruitment of better-paid, less overworked teachers.90+
3ECOEcoloFREcolo makes free schooling a concrete right for families and supports the "Pacte d'excellence" and a revaluation of the teaching profession.72+
4VRTVooruitNLVooruit wants free healthy meals in primary school, lower teacher workloads and stronger teacher training with a paid internship year.70+
5CD&VCD&VNLCD&V backs a career pact to revalue and recruit teachers, restore their authority and raise quality, rather than free school meals.65+
6LELes EngagésFRLes Engagés want to revalue the teaching profession and refocus schools on fundamental knowledge, in a centrist stance combining public means and quality demands.50~
7VBVlaams BelangNL⚑ Radical stanceVlaams Belang stresses quality and excellence, a binding language test for toddlers and more investment in school buildings.48~
8VLDOpen VLDNLOpen VLD champions freedom and responsibility in education, a reform of teacher training and a focus on quality, STEM and labour-market relevance.40−
9MRMRFRThe MR advocates school autonomy, parental free choice and demanding education, with a modernised teacher status and less administrative burden.38−
10N-VAN-VANLThe N-VA wants to strengthen school autonomy, defend freedom of education against state pedagogy and refocus primary school on Dutch and mathematics.35−
+Closer to: Public funding (≥ 60)~Mixed / centrist stance (45–59)−Closer to: Autonomy / private (< 45)⚑Radical stance
⚑For neutrality, parties with radical positions (PTB·PVDA on the left, Vlaams Belang on the right) are never ranked first, even when their stance is the most pronounced on the axis: they are placed just below the first party of government. The rule applies identically on the left and on the right.
Frequently asked questions
How do you read this Education ranking?−
This is a POSITIONS view, not a "best party" verdict. Each party is placed on a 0–100 axis between two poles — "Autonomy / private" (low) and "Public funding" (high) — based on its official 2024 manifesto, parliamentary votes, the Chapel Hill Expert Survey and Belgian media. A higher score simply means a position closer to the "Public funding" pole, not a better or worse stance.