ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the measures, policies, and strategies adopted in Belgium to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the decentralised nature of Belgium's governance system, differentiating between policies implemented by the three language-based communities. The chapter delves into the impact of school closures on student learning, with a particular focus on administrative data from the Flemish-speaking Community. Although a detailed analysis of the French and German-speaking communities is limited due to a lack of comprehensive data, the chapter evaluates the role of summer schools in Flanders, introduced in 2020, as a tool to mitigate learning losses. Additionally, the chapter discusses general trends in educational performance as reflected in recent international student assessments, including the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
