Flanders (Belgium): Regulated Anarchy in Catholic and Public Education

Abstract

The kingdom of Belgium is divided into three distinct regions, which, since the early 1970s, have increasing autonomy. Although there is a king, a Belgian prime minister, and a national parliament, Flanders has its own parliament, an official language (Dutch), and full responsibility for health, education, and social welfare policies for its population of six million.¹ Because there is no national education system in Belgium (the Belgian federal authority is only responsible for three educational issues: the start and end of compulsory education, minimum conditions for obtaining a diploma, and education staff pensions), this book has chosen to treat Flanders as if it were a distinct country. The authority responsible for education in Flanders is the Flemish Community.