LIÈGE, Belgium — Hundreds of students have taken to the streets in the Belgian city of Liège to protest rising education costs, overcrowded classrooms and difficulties accessing study materials. The demonstrations come amid a wider wave of student protests in neighbouring France, which has encouraged some Belgian students to join the movement. Reuters+1
Key Points
- Students are protesting higher education costs and reforms affecting French-speaking Belgium.
- Tuition fees for many students are set to rise from €835 to €1,194.
- Protesters are also demanding better classroom conditions and improved access to educational resources.
- Some students say France’s ongoing protests inspired and encouraged their demonstrations.
- The unrest in Liège has included property damage and fires, with local media reporting 107 arrests in recent days. Reuters
- Authorities have urged people to avoid parts of the city because of disruptions, while officials have called for a peaceful resolution through dialogue. Reuters
The protests reflect growing concern among young people over the affordability and quality of education. While many demonstrations have focused on peaceful expression of students’ demands, incidents of violence and property damage have increased tensions between protesters and authorities.
