Flanders and Netherlands renew education co-operation
The Flemish and Dutch education ministers have reached agreement on the funding of Dutch students in Flemish schools and Dutch-language education abroad
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A renewal of the agreement was necessary because of recent concerns in Flanders about the increasing number of Dutch students enrolling in Flemish primary and secondary schools, as well as institutions of higher education. This was particularly the case after the Netherlands reformed its system of study subsidies. There are currently 52,800 Dutch students registered at Flemish higher education institutions, compared to 4,100 Flemish students at Dutch schools.
In terms of Dutch-speaking students studying outside of the Netherlands and Flanders, Dutch authorities had considered cutting the budget of Dutch-speaking education abroad, which is used by about 1,400 Flemish students. Dutch-speaking education abroad refers to lessons delivered in Dutch at international schools or outside normal school hours. The Dutch education inspection monitors 200 schools abroad.
Crevits and her Dutch colleague Jet Bussemaker agreed that the Dutch government will keep financing the Dutch-speaking education abroad and that Flanders from now on will also have a representative on the board of directors of the foundation that runs the schools. The Flemish government, meanwhile, will continue to finance the cost of Dutch students in Flanders.
The agreement also contains deals related to information exchange , monitoring of student mobility and digitisation.
Photo: Education ministers Jet Bussemaker (left) and Hilde Crevits
