Structural problems persist
From the outside, the European Schools seem like a privileged enclave. But the system is stretched to its limits.
The schools’ complex governance structure, split between the EU and national bodies, means “everyone decides, and no one decides … everyone will always find someone else to blame,” said the mother of a student in primary and one in secondary. They also complained that decisions are made behind closed doors and without proper consultations with parents.
Beckmann rejected the accusations of not sticking to promises, explaining that the relocation clause had always been subject to review in 2024 and that decisions were made collectively.
Meanwhile, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) study conducted in five European Schools between September and November 2018 found that children with disabilities were often not provided with adequate accommodation to allow them to learn in an inclusive environment. The report did not specify which schools were reviewed.
Teachers have also raised concerns over employment conditions at the European Schools. Between February and March this year, staff in Brussels staged several strikes to demand equal rights for locally recruited teachers, who face precarious contracts, lack job stability and have no union representation.
To address job-security concerns, Beckmann said that the Board of Governors decided to provide staff that have worked in the system for more than eight years with permanent contracts. Regarding the salary concerns, he said the system is also looking into it, but argued that the European Schools in Belgium already offer “more than competitive” salaries compared with national schools.
But for many Brussels parents, it may not be enough. “The whole history of overcrowding in the European Schools is about inadequate planning,” said Gesquiere. “And the children are the ones caught in the middle.”