“Money is not a problem. Every request for the creation of additional capacity in special education will be honored.” Flemish Minister of Education Ben Weyts (N-VA) answered this in the Flemish Parliament on Wednesday to questions from Johan Danen (Green), Steve Vandenberghe (Vooruit), Loes Vandromme (CD&V) and Bob Savenberg (Open VLD).
In recent days, reports have surfaced again about capacity problems in special education. In Antwerp alone, for example, almost 700 children are on the waiting list for a place in special education. In a petition and a much-viewed video, parents are sounding the alarm.
According to Minister Weyts, the government has invested heavily in additional capacity in recent years and these investments have also led to 8,000 additional places. “Is that sufficient? No. But it is a gigantic step,” said the minister. He points out that the number of applications for some types of special education experienced “a gigantic explosion”. For example, the number of applications for type 2 (children with an intellectual disability) “has increased fivefold in four years”.
The N-VA minister is also confident that any request for additional capacity will be “honored.” “Money is not a problem,” he said. “We will support anyone who wants to organize extra capacity,” says Weyts.
Overdiagnosis
The minister also wonders whether children are not given a label too quickly. He has therefore ordered a study to determine whether there is a situation of “overdiagnosis” in which children may also enter special education too quickly.
Opposition parties Groen and Vooruit have questions about the minister’s approach. For example, Johan Danen (Green) insists on a long-term vision in which more effort is made towards more inclusive education in regular education. Steve Vandenberghe (Vooruit) also believes that the minister should urgently provide more resources to better meet healthcare needs in mainstream education.
Tags: Minister Weyts support create extra places special education Money problem
