Brussels: As many as 15,000 people marched Thursday in Brussels to protest spending cuts and reforms introduced last autumn by the Walloon regional government. Teachers, educators, students, childcare staff, and cultural sector workers took to the streets to denounce the measures and the lack of consultation.

According to Anadolu Agency, Mathias, a geography teacher from Gosselies, expressed his frustration by stating, ‘I am here to tell the government to listen to teachers and understand their anger. If we are in the streets today, it is not for nothing.’ He highlighted concerns over the common core reform and the additional two weekly hours in secondary schools, which he believes are causing significant instability for the upcoming academic year. Mathias emphasized that ‘schools need stability, not chaos.’

The demonstration saw participation from students in higher education, who voiced their opposition to tuition fee increases by chanting and banging pots and pans. The march commenced at the Gare du Midi railway station and proceeded along Petite Ceinture road, culminating outside the heavily guarded MR headquarters.

This protest marks the second joint demonstration across sectors in the Walloon Region in recent months. A previous march on December 15 saw between 5,000 and 7,000 demonstrators rallying in central Brussels against the spending measures.