The committee will consist of experts, school leaders, (former) teachers and HR experts from the business community. Among them are Hilde Lesage, head of the Department of Education and Training, educational economist Kristof De Witte (KU Leuven) and Ann Verreth, general director of Odisee Hogeschool. Another notable name is Hugo Deckers, former Secretary General of ACOD Education.
“We have already demolished several sacred cows in the fight for better educational quality and more teachers, but we must be able to go further,” says Weyts in a press release. “Different education players are also calling for even more fundamental reforms. However, just about every stakeholder has a different reform in mind. For example, the discussion about the foundations of our education system has been bogged down in deaf conversations and stalemates for years. We now want to transcend that with this Committee of Wise Men, just as we did with the Better Education Committee. Dirk Van Damme is the perfect figure for this.”
The committee must submit a draft by the end of 2023.