Brussels Minister Sven Gatz, who is responsible for Dutch-language education in the capital within the Flemish Community Commission, announced on Thursday an investment of €725,000 during the current school year to help cover the school fees of children from poorer families.
"One child in four grows up in poverty in the Brussels-Capital Region," explained Mr Gatz. Financial barriers are a barrier to equal opportunities, he explained and noted that the start of the school year is a costly time for many parents of school-age children, as school fees weigh heavily on the family budget.
Thanks to the subsidy from the Flemish Community Commission, schools are able to cover various costs such as textbooks, materials, swimming, childcare, school outings, meals and even menstrual protection. "This ensures equal opportunities for all pupils, regardless of their financial situation".
This is not the first time that ministers have faced calls to assist families in need. During the pandemic, Brussels saw a 25% rise in people using food banks, prompting fears that pupils would be going to school hungry. Local MPs calculated it would cost €15 million each year to provide free school meals to all pupils in the Dutch education system. But this cost would fall significantly if the aid was means-tested and given only to families in the greatest need.
