The key facts

  • ULB students protest against a tuition fee increase of approximately 43%
  • According to the Federation Wallonia-Brussels, the increase affects 58% of higher education students
  • The demonstrators called for support of the actions on November 17 and 20

Action on the Solbosch campus

Students of the Free University of Brussels (ULB) held a demonstration on the Solbosch campus on Friday against rising tuition fees, cuts to education spending and the government's higher education reforms. Anadolu reported, citing the Brussels Times newspaper. Chanting slogans and carrying placards, the protesters demanded free and high-quality education, criticizing what they described as an increasingly elitist education policy.

Key demands and grievances

One of the main sources of discontent was the increase in annual tuition fees by approximately 43%. According to figures from the Federation Wallonia-Brussels cited by the participants, the increase affects 58% of higher education students. The protesters also spoke out against changes to the Paysage decree, which regulates the organization of higher education, and against cuts to education spending in the Federation Wallonia-Brussels.

Military spending and further actions

The demonstration was also directed against the federal government's planned military investments of €34 billion ($37.6 billion) by 2034: students contrasted military spending with funding for education. One of the entrances to the campus was decorated in military camouflage colors with the inscription 'elitist education + war', while another carried a call for 'free, quality education'. The demonstrators called on students and education workers' unions to join the protest on November 17, timed to coincide with International Students' Day, and also expressed support for the day of action on November 20 against voluntary military service, organized by the Service for Peace platform.