Truancy among young pupils getting worse
The number of primary school students who are missing school is growing, with children from disadvantaged backgrounds the most at risk
More than double in five years
“This is a small group in absolute numbers, but a very vulnerable one,” Bram Spruyt, professor of sociology at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) told De Standaard, pointing out that the truants represent just 0.5 % of all primary school children in Flanders.
He added that such children typically face a difficult situation at home – one of their parent may not speak Dutch, their mother might be low-skilled or they might be part of a group of travellers.
According to Steve Vandenberghe (SP.A), the Flemish member of parliament who requested the numbers, the truancy problem in Flanders is getting worse. “Every day that a child misses school has consequences,” he said. He also acknowledged that Crevits had worked hard to address the issue during her term of office.
Photo: Mariquitas CK/Wikimedia
