For the first time, children in Flanders who speak a different language and arrive in Belgium will automatically have to attend a separate language support class from the second year onwards. There, they will receive a crash course in Dutch and be taught key minimum language skills so that they can make the transition to mainstream primary school as quickly as possible. Pupils who have been in Belgium for some time but do not have a sufficient command of the language may also attend such classes.
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What’s new at school on 1 September? Separate language classes for non-Dutch-speaking newcomers in primary education
Colin Clapson
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In addition, primary schools will also receive extra resources to allow work in small groups to enhance the language skills of preschoolers and primary school pupils if they are unable to keep up in mainstream lessons.
Last June, primary school teachers were required to assess whether their pupils would need extra language lessons when making the transition to secondary school. This proved to be the case for around 5 per cent of pupils. For these pupils secondary schools must provide a maximum of three extra language lessons on top of the standard curriculum.