Flanders approves set of measures to improve children's knowledge of Dutch
The Flemish government has approved a package of measures to improve children's knowledge of Dutch, including a separate programme for primary school children with insufficient proficiency in the language.
The measures include additional language support in childcare, introductory classes for toddlers and language lessons in small groups at nursery. Primary school pupils with a language deficit will be required to attend "language hero classes", a separate programme lasting one or two school years from the second year onwards.
"The language problem in our education system has never been so serious and requires measures that have never been taken before"
“There is nothing stigmatising about taking children out of class to provide them with additional language support,” said Flemish minister of Education Zuhal Demir. ‘What is stigmatising and frustrating for a child is falling behind while their classmates progress more quickly."
The separate programme will be introduced in the 2026-2027 school year. Pupils not placed in the programme may still be required to take three hours of additional language lessons per week.
Lifelong burden
"The language problem in our education system has never been so serious and requires measures that have never been taken before," said Demir. According to figures from the Department for Education, the share of children who do not speak Dutch at home increased from 18 to over 27 per cent in 10 years.
“Language deficits are a lifelong burden. The sooner we lift that burden from children, the stronger they will be in the classroom and in life,” said Demir. The introductory programme for foreign language newcomers in secondary school will also be reformed to enable students to transition to mainstream education more easily.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
Related news
