Flanders has approved a proposal to prioritise affordable childcare for young mothers who are still in secondary education.
The Flemish Parliament voted unanimously to approve the bill on Thursday. The proposal was tabled by Katrien Schryvers (CD&V), Koen Daniëls (N-VA) and Freya Saeys (Open VLD), and it will ensure that young mothers in secondary school benefit from the lowest possible childcare fees.
Until now, this minimum rate only applied to underage mothers. However, the change has come about to account for the fact that not all individuals have completed secondary education by their 18th birthday. "With this adjustment, we will ensure that these mothers are not suddenly confronted with a rate increase and therefore remove an obstacle to completing their secondary education," the proposal stated.
Parents pay a financial contribution towards public childcare fees for babies and toddlers, which is calculated based on household income. In Flanders, parents pay an average of €14.16 per month under this arrangement. Underage mothers have automatically paid the lowest possible rate since 2018.
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Saeys explained that the measure is expanding to include all mothers still in secondary education to prevent a sudden surge in fees for them once they turn 18. Such a hike is a result of the financial contribution depending on the entire household's income.
"We want to avoid such a sudden rate increase," commented Daniëls. "After all, the objective is that they can complete their secondary education," Schryvers added.
Ahead of the 9 June elections, almost all political parties are eyeing up the electoral gain of prioritising improvements to childcare in Flanders and wider Belgium, given the sector's worsening situation and its negligible impact on children and families.
For instance, Groen/Ecolo want to create 5,000 additional spaces to alleviate the issue of crèche shortages while Francophone liberals Mouvement Réformateur (MR) want to give priority to working parents.
