Until now, religious symbols have been banned at Belgian public graduate schools. From September 2021, though, they will be authorised 'with restrictions', declared Julien Nicaise, general administrator of Wallonie Bruxelles Enseignement (WBE).

The change will take place in higher education institutions (at around 39 schools, affecting 50 000 students) that are under the responsibility of the francophone public administration (WBE). 

This decision will mostly impact those Muslim women who wear headscarves. They should, as a result, be allowed to attend a larger range of schools, as numerous institutions did not tolerate their headscarves until now. 2020 saw strong demonstrations from diverse collectives of Belgian Muslim women, working to reclaim access to education and employment without discrimination.

In Belgium, debates on the integration of immigrants are often centred upon on the wearing of headscarves for women, and the concept of secularism as an essential part of the Belgian identity. Due to the way the academic system is set up in Belgium, graduate institutions and universities across the country have applied diverse policies regarding religious symbols for their students, teachers and employees.

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