Flemish Minister of Education Ben Weyts (N-VA) is releasing additional resources of 75 million euros to invest in school desks. With this money, schools should be able to better prepare for the expected growth in the number of students by the 2027-2028 school year, the statement reads. Schools can submit a specific project until February 20, 2024.
The minister said he did not intend to launch a call for new capacity projects during this term of office. The intention was to first wait for the preparation of a new capacity monitor, which looks at expected demographic developments and predicts where possible space shortages are expected. However, Weyts wants to be sure that the additional places are created on time.
The monitor previously indicated that a new peak in student numbers will occur by the 2027-2028 school year. The minister is mainly aiming for additional places in technical and vocational training, extra capacity in the B stream and even more provision in special education.
“We want supply to be ahead of demand, especially in regions where demand is very predictable,” Weyts explains. “Only if we invest in time now will we be ready for the additional students by 2027. For example, we are not going to jeopardize the good growth of our technical and vocational education.”
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