At least 2,000 demonstrators will participate tomorrow/Tuesday in the first day of action by the education unions out of dissatisfaction with the report of the Commission of the Wise. This is evident from surveys conducted by trade unions among their members. “Unprecedented,” says COC. And the ACOD is also looking hopefully at the action that will start on Tuesday at 9:30 am on the Operaplein in Antwerp.
The three education unions ACOD Education, COC and VSOA Education are organizing five demonstrations in May, each on a different day in a different city in all Flemish provinces. On Tuesday it will be Antwerp’s turn and the first figures show that attendance will be large, the Christian Education Center (COC) reports in a press release.
“While it was initially hoped for 1,000 demonstrators spread across five provinces, 2,000 demonstrators are currently expected in Antwerp alone,” says COC secretary general Koen Van Kerkhoven. “That is unprecedented! And the counters don’t stand still.”
“Size is full”
Lars Van Santvoort, provincial secretary for ACOD Education, also has a good feeling about the turnout. Although he does not immediately want to give concrete figures. “Demonstrators or strikers do not have to register with us, but I do receive a lot of phone calls from our members. You clearly notice that many teachers have had enough and that they are tired of the Minister of Education Ben Weyts.”
That is why several community education and Municipal Education schools will not open their gates in the morning and will gather at Opera Square at half past nine. From there, half an hour later, it will move to Groenplaats where several members and provincial secretaries of the various education unions will speak.
Whether Catholic education will also participate remains to be seen, according to Van Santvoort, “but I am also receiving signals from our members within that umbrella organization that they also want to take action.”
Emergency shelter
Countless lessons will therefore not be able to continue. Some schools will organize emergency care and others will be forced to switch to distance learning due to the lack of staff.
After Antwerp, actions will follow in Ostend on Wednesday, May 8 at Sint-Petrus-en-Paulusplein at 10 a.m., Leuven on Monday, May 13 at Martelarenplein at 10 a.m., Hasselt on Tuesday, May 14 at Molenpoortplein at 1 p.m. and finally Ghent on Wednesday, May 15 in Citadel Park at 10 a.m.
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