Just over half of Ukrainian children (920) are enrolled in primary education. In addition, the Flemish schools also received 525 Ukrainian toddlers and 382 students in secondary education on Tuesday.
A third of Ukrainian children (602) attend school in the province of Antwerp. This can be explained by the fact that there is already a Ukrainian community in Antwerp. There is also a considerable number (403) in East Flanders. This is followed by West Flanders (294), Flemish Brabant (286), Limburg (196) and the Brussels-Capital Region (46).
The figures include students enrolled in the regular classes as well as those attending school in OKAN classes (reception education for newcomers who speak a different language). Weyts assumes that the numbers will continue to rise, because Ukrainian children – just like other newcomers – are only subject to compulsory education from the sixtieth day after registration as a resident of a Belgian community.
An emergency decree is expected to be approved later today to help schools receive Ukrainian students. This gives the schools extra resources and opportunities to receive students. It is also the intention to provide education in collective reception facilities. A next emergency decree should therefore make it possible to provide education in Ukrainian by Ukrainian teachers.