Children and schooling

Crèches

Crèches are for children between 0 and 3 years. In some crèches – like those located on the two UCL sites (Louvain-la-Neuve and Brussels-Woluwé), which are approved and subsidised by the ONE (Office de la Naissance et de l’Enfance), how much parents contribute to fees depends on their professional incomes. Children are admitted on the condition that their parents are working. In non-subsidised crèches, the share paid by the parents is fixed and is slightly higher.

In Louvain-la-Neuve, there are around ten crèches and some maisons d’enfants. The site’s location means that demand is always higher than the capacity to provide places; given this, it is recommended that you reserve a place several months in advance. The list of crèches can be found in the ‘guide des commerces et services de Louvain-la-Neuve’ (available at the ‘Point de repère’).

In Brussels: Contact the Administration communale de Woluwé (Ms Brondeel: +32(0)2.761.28.33, Ms Wijlock : +32(0)2.761.28.34).

Schooling

Schools in Belgium are free of charge (a guarantee provided for under the Constitution) until the end of compulsory schooling. Children must attend school from 6 years old until the age of 18. The parents are free to choose which kind of school they want their child to attend. There is a large choice of schools: collèges, instituts, lycées, athénées, etc.

Schooling is organized according to the following system:

Basic education
(nursery school – from 2.5 years until 6 years old – and primary school, from 6 years old until 12 years old). Duration: 3+6 years.

Secondary education
6 years spread over three levels, each lasting 2 years (from 12 years old until 18 years old).

There are two subsidized teaching networks: the official network and the free network, which can be confessional or non-confessional. Schools ask parents to make a small financial contribution, which covers costs such as books, photocopies and regular outings.

For more details (and the list of schools in the region): http://www.agers.cfwb.be

The third network is private, and is not subsidized by the state. Here, parents are asked to pay tuition fees. For the European schools: please consult the brochure Newcomer.

Annual tuition fees for private schools usually amount to:

Nursery school: 1,300 euro
Primary school: 1,500 to 1,800 euro
Secondary school: 2,300 euro

International schools: please consult the brochure Newcomer (price examples are given in the ‘St John’s International School’ brochure, which can be consulted at the UCL human resources management service – simar@rhum.ucl.ac.be