Schools end days before the end. And that has to end

In Flanders, the school year in primary and secondary schools begins on 1 September and ends on 30 June. At least in theory. In practice, many (mostly secondary) schools don’t expect any effort from pupils in the days leading up to 30 June. Minister of Education Zuhal Demir wants that practice to end, but she’s in for a difficult fight.

The quality of education has dropped in recent years in Flanders. In international tests, the Flemish children end well below the top performers. Demir has made it her mission to get back among the best.

One of her remedies is to make better use of every day during the school year. Today, several days a year, pupils don’t have to learn, or even don’t have to be present. ‘Pedagogical study days’, for example, are days teachers meet to discuss their working methods, the children have a holiday.

At the end of the year, at the end of June, it’s about much more than one day. In secondary schools, exams end days before 30 June. Schools and teachers say this is necessary to correct the exams and to evaluate the results. The children are only supposed to come back to school at the very end of June, to pick up their report cards.

Demir wants to reduce the number of days and wants all pupils and all teachers to be present on 30 June, for the whole day. Unrealistic, teachers and school principals reply. The exams are over, nobody will be motivated to work anymore.

Next year, 2026-2027, will be the first year under the new rules, but schools will not yet be sanctioned for noncompliance. There’s a one-year grace period. And already today, schools are thinking about escape routes.

The broader relationship between Zuhal Demir and the field of education is tense. Demir pushes through many changes, saying they are necessary to improve quality. Schools say they are ready to change, but at their own pace and according to their input.

_{#FlandersNewsService | Zuhal Demir © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}