Flanders will introduce stricter inspections for homeschooling following alarming reports of child neglect and violations, Flemish Minister of Education Zuhal Demir announced on Wednesday.
The move comes as the region grapples with a significant rise in homeschooling since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently, approximately 5,800 young people are being educated at home in Flanders, a noticeable increase from previous years. The surge has raised concerns about the quality of education and the welfare of children outside the traditional school system.
“Freedom of education does not mean the freedom not to educate your children,” Demir stated, emphasizing the need for accountability.
In the last academic year, inspectors conducted 766 checks on homeschooling setups, leading to 28 negative assessments. Of these, ten cases were forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office due to severe concerns.
This month, the Agency for Education Services plans to escalate 115 additional cases related to missing educational certificates.
“I have been made aware of serious incidents involving disturbing home situations,” Demir revealed. While acknowledging that most parents can provide high-quality education, she stressed that the increasing number of homeschooled students necessitates enhanced scrutiny.
The new measures will mandate specific training for school inspectors to help them identify signs of child abuse more effectively. Home visits by inspectors will become more frequent and strategically targeted. Additionally, a streamlined reporting system will be implemented to automatically flag and address suspicions of child neglect or abuse.
“Children deserve to receive high-quality education in a safe learning environment. We want to offer our children that guarantee,” Demir affirmed, outlining the government’s commitment to safeguarding educational standards and child welfare.
The proposed reforms have sparked a mix of support and concern among homeschooling parents. Some worry that the intensified inspections could infringe on parental rights and create undue pressure. Others, however, welcome the move, arguing that increased oversight is essential to protect children’s interests.
As Flanders prepares to roll out these measures, the effectiveness of the enhanced inspections will be closely monitored.
The regional government’s actions reflect a broader trend in Europe, where authorities are tightening regulations on homeschooling to ensure that all children, regardless of their educational setting, receive a proper education.
