Different Communities, Common Concerns: an Analysis of Teachers’ Challenges and Practices in Handling Contentious Issues with Students in Belgian Secondary Schools

This article reports on the main findings of the research activities undertaken in Belgium, within the framework of the H2020 project PARTICIPATION, to gather data and provide analysis of teachers’ challenges and practices in handling contentious issues with students in Belgian secondary schools. After having synthesised the main data collected through desk research, the article presents the main findings of an online survey administered to thirty-two teachers (22 Belgian French-speaking teachers and 10 Belgian Flemish-speaking teachers) and of the two workshops conducted with them, to make teachers at the very core of this research. The article concludes with a set of recommendations based on the collection of teachers’ views regarding challenges, obstacles, and good and bad practices, as well as their perceived needs and requirements, that would improve their skills at addressing challenges and contentious topics in the classroom.