The new Flemish government brings the cost of education back in the spotlight as financial measures loom. At the same time, more pupils are using the Bednet platform, and the education minister says the last day of school will not change – even though it’s a Monday
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Education in Flanders: Worries over budget, more kids use Bednet and Monday remains last day of school
Lisa Bradshaw
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Education networks in Flanders are expressing serious concern about budget cuts expected to be approved today. The measure will see the inflation index only half or not at all applied to the education (and health) budgets in the coming years.
In a joint statement the education and health sectors said that “if the Flemish government does not fully index the resources made available to the sectors, then quality is going to be seriously compromised.”
According to the primary and secondary education networks, the inflation index has already not been fully adjusted in eight of the last 11 years. Three years there was no indexation at all, and eight years it was figures at 60%.
Some schools fine it extremely difficult to operate on the budgets they have
Bruno Vanobbergen, Catholic education network
“Some schools are already struggling, and that will only get worse,” says Bruno Vanobbergen, director of Catholic education network. “The cost of energy, building maintenance, school materials, swimming lessons, bus trips … all of this has become more expensive in the last few years. But the budget doesn’t rise in proportion, meaning that some schools find it extremely difficult to operate on the budgets they have.”
In related news, the number of pupils using the distance learning tool Bednet for social and psychological reasons is climbing. Bednet has traditionally been used by long-term sick children to follow classes from home virtually. A specialised device with a screen and camera allows pupils to be visible to classmates. The pupil can move the camera around the room and so can perfectly follow classes.
But Bednet can also be used by pupils with social and psychological issues like autism, anxiety, eating disorders and behavioural problems. This group of Bednet users has more than tripled over a five-year period, from 198 in 2018 to 675 in 2023.
While some pupils attend school two or three days a week and use Bednet on the other days, some turn to Bednet full time. Some 88% of the Bednet budget is financed by the Flemish government.
Finally, Flemish education minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) has said that 30 June will remain the final day of school for the 2025-25 year. Because that traditional last day falls on a Monday this year, education networks assumed it would be dropped and that the previous Friday would be the last day.
Holiday travel rush
“With the decline in educational performance and the teacher shortage, we are going to need to be in front of the class every single school day to teach children,” said Demir. The last time that the final day fell on a Monday, it was indeed eliminated, so the education networks had not expected this decision.
Many families pull their kids out of school on the final day, in any case, to get a head start on summer holiday travel. So many schools expect to see few pupils on 30 June and find ending the school year on that day silly.
Other school heads feel differently. “Our students already have a nice, long summer holiday,” says Sophie Van Hulle of the Karel de Goede school community in Bruges. “Cancelling it requires parents to seek another day of child care.”