Education in Belgium - Bastien, Jean-Denis, Loïck and Pierre

The schools are divided in three groups in Belgium :
schools owned by the communities, subsidized public schools organized by provinces and municipalities and subsidized free schools organized by an organisation affiliated to the Catholic Church. Our school is in the third group.

Education in Belgium is compulsory between the ages of 4 and 18.

The different stages of education are the same in all communities:
Basic education consisting of Pre-school (-6 years) and Primary school (6-12 years).
Then Secondary school (12-18 years)
And finally Higher education with University or Polytechnic/Vocational university

Pre-school :
Pre-school is provided to every child from the age of 2 years 6 months

Primary school :
Primary school is free and age is the only entrance requirement.
Primary school is divided into three cycles :
First cycle (year 1 and 2)
Second cycle (year 3 and 4)
Third cycle (year 5 and 6)

Secondary school :

When graduating from primary school around the age of 12, students enter secondary education.
Here they have to choose a direction that they want to follow, depending on their skill level and interests.
Secondary education consists of three cycles :

First cycle (year 1 and 2).

Here is a photo of the school we went to for our first cycle :

Second cycle (year 3 and 4).
Third cycle (year 5 and 6).

In our school the second and third cycles take place in this school "up the hill" :

We are in the first year of the second cycle.

Secondary school is divided into four general types. Each type consists of a set of different directions that may vary from school to school. The general types are as follow :

General secondary education (about 40%) of all pupils) : a very broad, general education preparing for higher education.

Technical secondary education (about 30% of all pupils) is divided into two groups of education again. The first one focuses more on technical matters, the second one focuses more on practical matters.

Vocational secondary education (about 30% of all students) : very practical and very job specific education.

Art secondary education (about 2% of all pupils)

Higher education :

Since the adoption of the Bologna process in most European countries, the higher education system in Belgium follows the Bachelor/Master system :

Bachelor's degree :

3 years. Distinction is to be made between the professional bachelor, which replaces the former graduate degree and which has a finality, and the academic bachelor which replaces the candidate degree and which gives access to master's studies.

Master's degree :

1 or 2 years

In Belgium, both Universities and Colleges are allowed to teach Bachelor and Master classes, either professional or academical.

Students from La Roche usually go to the universities of Louvain, Liège or Brussels.

After obtaining a Master's degree, talented students can pursue research projects leading to a doctorate degree.

From WIKIPEDIA

If you want to know more about the subject :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Belgium

Bastien, Jean-Denis, Loïck and Pierre