15 Feb '17

Teachers and students enthusiastic about immersion courses

Summary

Educators across Flanders are praising the Clil system, introduced in 2014 to allow teachers to teach subjects in a language other than Dutch, but they say they need more government support to expand the programme

‘A success story’

Teachers in Flanders find teaching non-language courses in another language extremely useful to students, and students feel the same way, according to a survey carried out across 20 schools in the region. The Content and Language Integrated Learning (Clil) system of immersion education became available to schools in 2014.
 

More than 60 secondary schools in Flanders and Brussels provide Clil, meaning they offer non-language courses in a language other than Dutch – specifically, in English, French or German. Courses in history, geography and mathematics are among the most common to be offered in one of the other languages.

The survey now indicates that students, teachers and directors see the system as extremely beneficial and want to see it “expand sustainably” all over Flanders.

The teachers said that the tempo of lessons can be slower – especially in the beginning – but that the real problem is a lack of support for teachers. “The Flemish government has provided few resources to get the programme up and running,” Veronique Fricot, a Clil teacher at the Sint-Lodewijkscollege in Bruges, told De Standaard. “Schools have to arrange it internally by making adjustments concerning staff and lessons.”

Flemish education minister Hilde Crevits said that the Clil system is “a success story” and that she wants to expand the system to as many forms of education in the region as possible.

Photo courtesy hildecrevits.be

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Educational system

The Flemish educational system is divided into two levels: primary (age six to 12) and secondary school (12 to 18). Education is compulsory for children between the ages of six and 18.
Types - There are three educational networks in Flanders: the Flemish Community’s GO! network, and publicly funded education – either publicly or privately run.
Not enough space - In recent years, Flemish schools have been struggling with persistent teacher shortages and a growing lack of school spaces.
No tuition fees - Nursery, primary and secondary school are free in Flanders.
1

million school-going children in 2013

30

million euros Flemish education budget for new school infrastructures in 2013

11

percent of boys leaving secondary school without a diploma

  • Education in Flanders
  • Secondary education reform
  • European Encyclopaedia on National Education Systems

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