Belgian School Directors Warn: "We Won't Be Able to Teach All Children to Swim"

An alarming situation is unfolding in Lint, Belgium, where the directors of three primary schools have issued a stark open letter: the future of school swimming lessons is in jeopardy. This is not merely an administrative inconvenience; it strikes at the heart of a fundamental life skill and a cherished part of our children's education. The escalating costs at the Kontich swimming pool, rising from a mere 1.70 euros per session to a prohibitive 8.05 euros, have rendered the program financially unviable for many families and schools.

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We zullen niet meer alle kinderen kunnen leren zwemmen

Compounding this issue is a new municipal subsidy of 45 euros per child per year, which is now expected to cover both swimming lessons and midday supervision. This single pot of funding is proving insufficient to meet the increased costs of the pool, forcing difficult choices. As Katleen Vleugels, director of De Wilg primary school, poignantly states, the schools will have to prioritize certain classes, inevitably leaving some children without the opportunity to learn this vital skill. This disproportionately impacts children from disadvantaged backgrounds or those in asylum centers, who lack the means for private lessons, widening the equity gap.

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We zullen ons moeten focussen op bepaalde klassen om te leren zwemmen

While Mayor Rudy Verhoeven of Lint (N-VA) acknowledges the financial pressures and expresses willingness to collaborate on solutions, the core issue remains the refusal of the municipality to contribute to the operational costs of the Kontich pool. This decision by Kontich to drastically increase prices, and Lint's subsequent unwillingness to subsidize these increased operational costs, places an untenable burden on our schools and, most importantly, our students. From our perspective at VRT NWS, ensuring that all children have access to essential skills like swimming is a matter of public interest and educational equity, and this situation demands urgent attention and a collaborative resolution.

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Kansarme kinderen of kinderen van het asielcentrum van Lint hebben niet de mogelijkheid om privé-zwemles te volgen.