Belgium

Belgium is a northwestern European nation with a 2009 population of 10,661,000. It houses the headquarters of the European Union. Belgians are largely urban residents and enjoy both low poverty rates and high life-expectancy rates. The Belgian population has represented a blend of cultures, languages, and religions throughout the country's history, which resulted in the development of separate schools to serve the main language communities of Dutch, French, and German speakers. Other educational options include private schools and home schooling. Different types of schools and instructional methodologies are common, and freedom of school choice remains a hallmark of Belgian education. Education is compulsory for ages 6 through 18 and literacy is almost universal. The rapid aging of the Belgian population has resulted in recent declines ...