Addressing Education Allowance for Parents of Children Enrolled in European Schools of Brussels

Why is this important?

We, the undersigned, submit this petition to raise awareness about the challenges faced by families working for the EU institutions in Brussels regarding access to quality education and to advocate for a fair and balanced education allowance system that promotes true freedom of choice.

Background and Issues:

Financial Pressure to Choose European Schools: European Schools offer free education to families of EU employees, Cat 1, which understandably becomes the primary option for many parents. However, this situation creates financial pressure for families, as choosing alternative educational institutions—such as private or international schools—imposes substantial costs. The significant cost difference forces many parents to opt for European Schools, even if alternative education would better suit their children's needs.

Inadequate Education Allowance for Alternative Schools: The current education allowance of €3,600, provided for those opting out of European Schools, is insufficient to cover the actual costs of enrolling in private or international schools, where fees are much higher. This leaves parents without a truly free choice, as the financial burden restricts them to choosing European Schools, rather than considering all available private educational options.

Overcrowding in European Schools: Due to the financial incentives mentioned above, European Schools in Brussels are experiencing severe overcrowding. This overcrowding not only diminishes the quality of education provided, but it also raises concerns regarding safety, infrastructure, and the ability to maintain pedagogical standards with the growing number of students.

Our Request:

We respectfully call on the European Commission to review the current education allowance policy for families in Brussels and to take the following actions:

Increase the Education Allowance: We urge the European Commission to raise the education allowance from €3,600 to a figure that more accurately reflects the real costs of attending non-European Schools. This increase would empower families to make a genuinely free and informed decision regarding their children's education, without being constrained by financial barriers.

Alleviate Overcrowding in European Schools: By adjusting the education allowance, more families would be able to consider enrolling their children in alternative schools. This would reduce the overcrowding in European Schools and improve the overall quality of education by ensuring that schools are not overburdened.

We believe that increasing the education allowance will help create a more equitable educational environment in Brussels, offering families genuine freedom of choice while simultaneously addressing the pressing issue of overcrowding in European Schools.

We hope the European Institutions will take these concerns seriously and act in the best interests of the families and students affected by these challenges.