Hundreds of students have taken to the streets in the Belgian city of Liège to protest rising education costs, with the demonstrations partly inspired by recent student unrest in neighbouring France.
Local media reported that 107 people had been arrested in recent days, although authorities were not immediately available to confirm the figure. The Belga news agency said the arrests were linked to offences including property damage and arson.
The protesters are challenging conditions in Belgium’s French-language education system, citing rising costs, overcrowded classrooms and difficulties accessing study materials.
Students carried placards expressing their frustration, including messages calling for education to be treated as a right rather than a privilege.
The demonstrations come after clashes between protesters and police in Brussels in June over education reforms. The reforms include an increase in tuition fees for most students in Belgium’s French-speaking Community, from €835 to €1,194.
Videos shared on social media in recent days showed broken windows, fires and hundreds of mostly young protesters in Liège, while other footage showed police officers blocking roads.
During Wednesday’s demonstration, police were also seen checking students for weapons.
Some students said they had been in contact with counterparts in France, where demonstrations over education issues have also taken place.
Nineteen years old student Alfred said Belgian and French students were supporting one another because they were facing largely similar problems.
Amelia Di Salve, also 19 and studying to become a teacher, said Belgium’s student movement began earlier this year and gained fresh momentum after students saw the demonstrations in France.
She said students decided to protest after seeing little change, acknowledging that events in France had influenced the movement.
Liège Mayor Willy Demeyer said he hoped the situation would settle and called for dialogue to allow young people to voice their concerns peacefully and have their grievances addressed.
Goodness Anunobi
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