Students block Belgian university campus in protest against tuition fee hike

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Students partially blocked the Solbosch campus of the Universite libre de Bruxelles (ULB) on Thursday to protest an increase in tuition fees, according to newspaper Le Soir.

The blockade began in the morning at the call of the “Gen-Z counter-attack” collective, which brings together students, student associations, researchers, teachers and university staff members.

Access to the campus remained possible for students, although some buildings were blocked, Le Soir reported.

The collective was protesting a 43% increase in annual tuition fees. According to data from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation cited by Le Soir, the increase affects 58% of higher education students.

The group also opposed reform of the landscape decree, reduced funding for lower education, rising transport costs and police interventions against young people participating in protests.

The collective had also called on ULB to cancel classes on Thursday, but its request was rejected. It also urged the university to end outsourcing, particularly for cleaning services.

İlayda Çakırtekin