Liberal and socialist unions active in education in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB) announced on Sunday that they will file a strike notice on Monday August 28, the first day of the new school year.
The teachers decry a recent decree on the development of skills and the evaluation of teachers approved by the parliament of the FWB on 19 July.
The strike notice will cover "any action from now until the repeal of the legislature", warn SETCa-SEL, CGSP-Teaching, SLFP-Teaching and Appel unions in a joint press release.
"The timing and modalities of the actions are, to date, not yet established. They will depend above all on the will of the Government to work and to advance on the rest of our demands," they specify.
Teachers also demand a reduction in class sizes, the enhancement of qualifying education, and the alignment of the academic calendar of higher education with that newly adopted calendar used in compulsory education.
The controversial decree on the development of skills and the evaluation of teachers, approved on 19 July, aims to implement a plan for its teachers to develop their professional skills, especially for young professionals.
In the event of deficiency or manifest unwillingness at the end of the training, an evaluation procedure may be launched.
The training involves an individual support plan for each teacher. At the end of this and if no progress is observed, a dismissal procedure may be initiated. However, teachers will be able to appeal this decision.
The socialist and liberal trade unions describe this decree as "deplorable" and consider it a "disastrous change of course in the Pact for teaching excellence". In April, up to 5,000 teachers in Brussels went on strike to denounce the plans, which they say places unnecessary administrative burden on teachers.
The FWB had previously announced that it had softened its teaching plans by "revising the timing of certain reforms so as not to overburden principals and teachers", noting that they have no intention to "sanction teachers at all cost."
The application of the decree is scheduled for January 2024. The “evaluation” component will not come into force until mid-2026.
