• From 2017, the first year of a bachelor’s degree will consist of general subjects such as sociology, psychology, law and economics or philosophy, history, linguistics and literature in human sciences. Specialisation will only start from the second year.

• University fees should be doubled, says André Oosterlinck, former rector of the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL). “We have been living above our means. Students will oppose this, but they should realise that what they pay now is only a fraction of what taxpayers pay for them.” His successor, Mark Waer, would rather not raise fees.

• Every student should spend some time abroad, says Alain Verschoren, rector of the University Antwerp. “Now only the welloff can do such a thing, which is undemocratic.”

• Three-quarters of secondary pupils have experienced physical violence at school. Verbal aggression is rife, too. The aggressors are not just pupils, but also teachers, the Flemish commissioner for children’s rights found after interviewing 2,000 pupils between the ages of 12 and 18.

• Toddlers in class produce up to 89 decibels of noise. In the sports hall, the noise level rises to 127 decibels. Almost half of preschool teachers report hearing or voice problems because of this, says professor Koen Godderis of KUL.