Flemish education minister seeks alternative savings after religious education reform scrapped
Flemish education minister Zuhal Demir has said the Flemish government will have to look for alternative savings after plans to reform religious and philosophy education were shelved following a negative opinion from the Council of State.
The planned reform was intended to save around 100 million euros annually by allowing schools to organise the two weekly hours of religious and philosophy education more flexibly. Lessons could have been grouped into larger blocks, while schools would also have been given greater scope to cooperate, exchange teaching hours and organise some activities remotely.
According to the Flemish government, the measure would have reduced the fragmentation of teaching hours and improved efficiency. However, the Council of State concluded that parts of the proposal were incompatible with constitutional provisions governing religious and philosophy education.
As a result, Demir decided to abandon the reform, leaving uncertainty over how the agreed savings in the education budget will now be achieved.
Search begins for new budget cuts
Speaking to VTM NIEUWS on Sunday, Demir expressed her frustration at the outcome. “I went into the government with a peacock, and came out with a soup chicken,” she said.
Demir highlighted that the 100 million euros in savings target remains on the table, but argued that the education sector should not bear responsibility for savings that can no longer be delivered through a workable reform.
“Of course, we will still have to look at how that 100 million is to be found,” said Demir. “But I think it is logical that the education sector will not make or take on this saving if we do not come up with a proposal that is feasible.”
The minister added that educational quality and language proficiency must remain the priority and warned against further cuts that could undermine schools. She described finding the savings as a “collective responsibility” for the Flemish government.
The reform had already prompted strong opposition from education unions and umbrella organisations. Earlier this month, several hundred teachers of religious and philosophy subjects protested in Brussels, arguing that the plans would create organisational problems, increase uncertainty for teachers and ultimately affect the quality of education.
#FlandersNewsService | Flemish minster of education Zuhal Demir © PHOTO WERNER LEROOY
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