A total of 7,774 pupils have registered to start at a Dutch-speaking primary school in Brussels next school year, yet a third of them cannot secure a place at their preferred school, according to the Local Consultation Platform (LOP) Brussels Primary Education on Thursday.
Around 2,000 pupils utilised the procedure for siblings, guaranteeing them priority and placement. The remaining applications are entirely new registrations. For 3,119 children, the outcome was positive: they can begin at a Brussels primary school next year.
However, no places were found for approximately 2,437 children. The LOP Brussels Primary Education believes that many of these children will still find spots in Dutch-speaking primary schools as four out of ten applications come from pupils wishing to switch schools, freeing up space later.
The organisation is sounding the alarm, noting that 12% of children aiming to join the reception class – the biggest group of applicants – cannot find a place at their parents’ preferred school. "This shortfall is occurring in various Brussels municipalities." Additionally, 352 children in Brussels cannot attend the school of their siblings.
The LOP also points out that Brussels is struggling with a significant teacher shortage. "The positive developments in educational capacity are overshadowed by the fragile balance within school teams," it states. Some Brussels primary schools might have to close classes in the future due to the lack of well-trained teachers.
According to the LOP, Brussels school leadership has "worked tirelessly over recent years to ensure there is someone available for every class," but "teachers in Brussels report that the situation is deteriorating."
In nursery education, one in five teachers lacks the right qualifications, while in primary education, it is two out of every five staff members.
