New standards also affect West Flemish boarding schools
The Abbey School of Zevenkerken in Bruges has two boarding schools, one with about 30 pupils and one with more than 170. From September, a boarding school must have 65 pupils. But with the same board and buildings on the same site, a merger is no problem. On the contrary: with the new decree they are even improving. (continue reading below the photo)
“It sounds a bit contradictory,” says boarding school administrator Peter Van Damme of the Abbey School. “In the past we had a good 1,800 euros per student, which drops to 1,300, but because the wages of the educators disappear and will be paid by the government, we will improve, yes.
“Problematic”
25 West Flemish Catholic boarding schools do not meet this new standard. For some, this is problematic. Sint-Leo Hemelsdaele in Bruges, for example, has 3 small boarding schools spread across the city, one of which will close in September, because they will receive a 40% reduction in budget. The fifth and sixth secondary school will have to go to the Sint-Leo site. (continue reading below the photo)
“Unfortunately, that means that they lose their independence,” says Vincent De Baere of Sint-Leo Hemelsdaele. “That was kind of the idea of our split-off fifth and sixth secondary school. In that sense, the decree is a very, very tough one for the small boarding schools as far as we are concerned.”
Transitional arrangement
But the 6 small boarding schools with an autonomous board in Bruges, Ypres, Kortemark, Koksijde and Kortrijk are even worse off. They really need to find a partner. Fortunately, there is an amendment from CD&V that the chairman of the Abbey School and CDV member Jean-Pierre Vandenberghe helped with. “Facilities have been provided for the boarding schools of just over 45 students who have concluded a merger compromise, so no real merger yet. They will also have the opportunity to grow. The term for this is two to four years. There is also a transition budget.”
An evaluation of the decree will also follow in 2025, although there is unanimity about the same statute and the quality guarantee.