The Flemish Government has announced a new digital education strategy that shifts away from the previous policy of providing free laptops to all primary school pupils.
Instead, the focus will now be on developing collective ICT infrastructure and reinforcing basic educational practices such as handwritten note-taking.
Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) presented the new policy on Monday, marking a significant departure from the €400 million initiative introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic by her predecessor, Ben Weyts (N-VA).
That earlier programme had aimed to provide every child from the fifth year of primary education with their own laptop to facilitate remote learning. However, with the one-time budget now exhausted, the government is adopting a different direction.
“The time has come to return to basics,” Demir stated. “Pen and paper are making a comeback in our classrooms.”
Under the new five-year plan, the government will invest €325 million to build shared ICT resources in schools. In primary education, this will include computer classes, centralised laptop stations, and lending services, enabling students to borrow devices when necessary.
For the first three years of secondary education, a similar model will apply, while individual purchases will be permitted in the later years, especially for students studying science-intensive subjects.
Demir emphasised that while students will not receive individual laptops, teachers will continue to have digital access. “It’s a matter of common sense,” she said.
A significant portion of the budget — €120 million — will be allocated to provide laptops for teachers, ensuring they remain equipped for modern educational needs.
The government’s new approach comes after the pandemic revealed widespread shortcomings in digital infrastructure and equipment in Flemish schools.
Critics of the previous laptop policy noted logistical issues and questioned whether the initiative addressed long-term digital literacy and infrastructure challenges.
In addition to the digital strategy, the Flemish Government has committed to fully reimbursing schools for the removal of asbestos — a dangerous carcinogen banned in Belgium since the late 1990s.
A 2018 survey by waste management agency OVAM found that more than 90% of school buildings in Flanders were likely to contain asbestos.
Until now, schools could only reclaim 60–70% of removal costs. Demir has now pledged that schools will no longer bear any financial burden for eliminating asbestos.
A draft decree approving the full reimbursement for asbestos removal and disposal has been preliminarily approved by the government. It will next be reviewed by the Flemish Education Council (Vlor) and the Council of State.
The asbestos removal initiative is expected to cost €5.4 million annually, a figure that Demir described as a worthwhile investment for the safety and health of students and staff.
As schools prepare for the new academic year, the Flemish Government’s strategy aims to strike a balance between modernising education and reinforcing foundational learning practices — all while making classrooms safer for the future.
