Belgian Students Struggle Again.. Low Scores and Major Math Challenges Revealed

Belgian Students Face Major Math Challenges and Low Scores

Vlaamse toetsen reveal alarming stagnation: over half of second-year secondary students fail math standards, prompting urgent reforms to boost discipline and knowledge acquisition.

Marie Dupont19 June 2025Last Update : 9 hours ago

Leerlingen scoren opnieuw ondermaats op Vlaamse toetsen: weinig toppresteerders en vooral problemen met wiskunde

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The latest results from the Flemish educational tests reveal persistent challenges in Belgium’s school system. These central exams, designed to curb declining education quality, once again show that many students struggle to meet key learning goals. As of 2025-06-19 17:46:00, only a small improvement is visible, but overall performance remains below expectations.

6 Key Takeaways

Toetsen geïntroduceerd om onderwijskwaliteit te verbeteren
52% tweedejaars secundair faalt wiskunde-eindtermen
Leesbegrip tweedejaars secundair stijgt naar 81%
Minister Demir voert nieuwe minimumdoelen in
Expert benadrukt belang kleuteronderwijs minimumdoelen
Meer focus op discipline en tucht in klas

Tests focus on second-year secondary pupils and fourth-year primary students, with plans to expand in coming years. Despite slight progress in areas like mathematical problem-solving and reading comprehension, a significant portion of students still fall short, prompting urgent calls for reform.

How can Belgium’s education system reverse this trend? Are the proposed reforms enough to boost student achievement? The following summary highlights key findings and expert opinions shaping the future of Flemish education.

Fast Answer: Flemish test results on 2025-06-19 17:46:00 show ongoing underperformance, especially in maths and reading among secondary and primary pupils, prompting urgent reforms focused on knowledge and classroom discipline.

Why do these results matter, and what can be done? Education experts emphasize that improving knowledge acquisition and classroom order are vital steps. Minister Zuhal Demir’s reforms, including new minimum goals and funding for inspiration schools, aim to tackle these issues. Key points include:

52% of second-year secondary students fail math standards, with slight improvements in problem-solving.
Reading comprehension rose significantly in secondary pupils but remains low in primary students.
Discipline and focused teaching time are critical, as currently only about 35 minutes per hour are effectively used.
Supporting both top performers and weaker students is essential to reduce educational gaps.

For Belgium, these results highlight the pressing need to strengthen foundational skills early, ensuring all students have equal opportunities to succeed in a competitive European context.

Looking ahead, sustained commitment to the new education policies and active engagement from schools will be crucial. Will these reforms finally raise Belgium’s educational standards? The coming years will show if focused knowledge goals and improved classroom discipline can turn the tide.