Festival van de Zorg immediately immerses first-year Orthopedagogical Guidance into practice

Because orthopedagogues work with vulnerable people in very diverse sectors.

During the two-day ‘Festival of Care’, the newly started students are immediately introduced to all possible aspects of their future job. Sophie Herremans, training coordinator for Orthopedagogical guidance: “We work with many different target groups. We work with people with disabilities. We work with the elderly. But also within youth care. And we work with people with psychological vulnerability. Because there are is also a very great need.”

The sector itself therefore supports the training. Institutions such as the non-profit organization Oranje or Licht en Liefde that work with visually impaired people come to show who and what they need. Inge Baes, student of Orthopedagogical Guidance at Howest Brugge: “You have people with a physical or psychological disability, people who have difficulty getting somewhere. You can also work with young people. You can choose yourself and then you find out for yourself where your heart is. more lies.”

Howest now has more than 200 prospective orthopedagogical counselors. It has been a shortage profession for years and registrations are only increasing slightly. Students who only graduated in June are all already working.