Education in Flanders

The education in the Flemish Community covers the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium and consists of three networks (netten): government-provided education (gemeenschapsonderwijs), subsidized public schools (by provinces and municipalities) and subsidized free schools (mainly affiliated to the Catholic church).

The federal level only regulates a few general matters: the start and end of compulsory education (which is between the ages of 6 and 18), the minimal conditions for issuing diplomas, and the pension scheme.

First, there are state schools directly provided by the Flemish government, which is called Gemeenschapsonderwijs (literally "community education"), stylised as "GO!

This network also includes a few schools organised by the Flemish Community Commission (VGC) in Brussels.

Lastly, there are subsidized free schools (vrij gesubsidieerd onderwijs), which is with about 70% of the pupils by far the largest group.

Certain universities have agreements which give students the option of following certain courses in the French-speaking counterpart: As part of the Bologna Process, the Flemish government set up in cooperation with the Dutch government an Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).

In primary and secondary education, this is some 5,950 students as of 2011 (25,200 if families from neighbouring countries but actually living in Flanders are included too), a rising number.

The Flemish Government is however required to provide French-medium schools in the twelve municipalities with language facilities if there is demand for it.

Contrary to French-speaking Belgium and other European countries, bilingual education is still rare in Flanders.

[8] Olyfran is a popular contest organised to test students' knowledge of the French language.

education), while the Flemish Community Commission is the organising body for the Dutch-speaking Brussels schools that until 1995 belonged to the province of Brabant.