Many parents can no longer pay school bills

Caroline Petitjean, Zorgpartner Pelicano: “If you then look at which invoices are given priority, it is often the energy bills, water, and invoices that come from the government. At the bottom are the school invoices. They remain open. I think from public welfare agencies, from debt mediation that we, also from the government, should look at how we can bring solace. Because the children are the victims. They can no longer do hobbies, do not get what they are entitled to.”

Pelicano also asks for a maximum invoice for secondary education.

primary education

But also in primary education, underprivileged children are increasing. The Sint-Joris primary school in Menen, for example, takes this into account. In primary education, a maximum invoice of 95 euros for primary and 50 euros for pre-primary applies. But even then, not everyone gets paid for everything. Monique Leenknecht, Primary School Sint-Joris Menen: “Within three weeks we will have our school party and then we will ensure that there are also free activities. We have a closet with second-hand clothing, if children do not have swimming gear, we just use it from the school.”