Strike at 22 Brussels primary schools in protest against staff shortages
Staff at 22 Dutch-medium municipal primary schools in the City of Brussels and the Brussels municipalities of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and Anderlecht are taking strike action today. The strike and a demonstration outside the office of the Flemish Education Minister Ben Weyts (nationalist) are in protest at staff shortages. The teachers and other school staff are demanding that Mr Weyts take action to resolve what has become a pressing issue in many of the capital’s schools.
An Gijs is the Headmistress of the Kakelbont School in the Laken district of Brussels. Ms Gijs told VRT News that “We started the year with three classes not having a form teacher. In the meantime, we have been able to resolve this”.
"I have taught classes myself and now there is only still an issue with the 5th year. All we want is to tell the Minister that this can’t go on”.
Bonus for working in Brussels and career switchers
When asked if a bonus to encourage teachers to come and work in Brussels might help Ms Gijs said “I don’t know if a Brussels bonus would help much. I don’t thing that extra euros would lure more people to teach in Brussels’ schools. Career switchers are interesting, but they need extra assistance, and we don’t have the staff for this. A revaluation of teaching as a profession is the only solution. We also have a lot of diversity here in Brussels, which does not make it easy”.
The school staff’s action enjoys the support of numerous parents that have joined forces to form a new group called SOS! (Save Our Schools).
The Anderlecht Alderman responsible for Dutch-medium education Bieke Comer (Flemish socialist) told VRT News that all 8 of Anderlecht’s Dutch-medium primary schools are taking part in the strike and protest. She added that there is emergency childcare provision for parents that need it.
Ms Comer also said that it is sheer coincidence that all three municipalities where school are taking part in Wednesday’s action have Alderman responsible for Dutch-medium education that are socialists.
"Above all these are the three biggest Brussels municipalities that have the most Dutch-medium municipal schools”.