Class for Ukrainian refugees demands “huge effort” from rural communities

Wingene has a large influx of Ukrainian refugees and is a frontrunner in rural communities in the region. “We currently count 25 families: 45 adults and 56 children, of which 13 are in pre-primary and 19 primary education in Wingene.”

School board Driespan and the Social House of Wingene have joined forces to give substance to the right to education. “That also means that the pressure on education is increasing again after two intensive corona years.”

Teacher shortage

OKAN education is a system for minor foreign-language newcomers and consists of a reception class. “Every morning, all Ukrainian children within Wingene, Zwevezele and Ruiselede are taken to the Center School of Wingene by school bus, to get a Dutch language immersion there,” said Alderman of Education, Hedwig Kerckhove. In the afternoon the children can follow the normal educational circuit in the nearest school to their (temporary) place of residence.

“It is not obvious to set up an OKAN class so quickly and on a large scale. On the one hand, there is the difficult puzzle due to the current, pressing teacher shortage. The Driespan school community is entitled to four extra teachers, but has only found one for the time being.” The school community deployed its own care counselor to make the OKAN classroom feasible.

Only one nationality

On the other hand, there is the rather exceptional situation where the class consists of one and the same nationality. Usually an OKAN class brings together different nationalities. “For the teacher(s) it is a challenge to keep the group focused, in Dutch and to be able to guide them.”

In order to take good care of the children and teacher, the municipality calls on (Ukrainian) volunteers, but they are also scarce. “The schools are still looking for volunteers and teachers,” says Lieven Verkest, director of the Driespan school group. “Do you feel called to help support in a classroom context or in supervising school bus transport? Then be sure to contact us.”

The municipality has also recruited an expert to better guide Ukrainian refugees in housing and employment.