Parents in Nieuwenrode launch petition against changes to after-school care

Parents at the 't Mulderke primary school in Nieuwenrode, Belgium, have launched a petition to protest new arrangements for after-school care, which they argue will significantly impact working families.

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They must either pick up their children earlier at the school gate, or pay to pick up their children at 't Klawieterke.

The core of the protest centers on the reduction of free after-school care hours. Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, the free period will conclude at 4:30 PM, a decrease from the current 5:00 PM. Children requiring care beyond this new cut-off time will be transported by bus to a central facility, 't Klawieterke, in Ramsdonk.

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How does the municipality transport all children to 't Klawieterke in half an hour, with a bus of 48 seats? And how can 't Klawieterke, with only 46 places, accommodate possibly 159 children?

Opposition party N-VA and concerned parents highlight the practical and financial burdens this shift imposes. They point out that parents will either have to collect their children earlier or pay for the extended care and bus transport. For a half-hour of daily care, the annual cost per child could reach 207 euros. Concerns are also raised about the logistics of transporting potentially 159 children with a single 48-seat bus and the possibility of traffic congestion in Ramsdonk.

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We must give this new approach a chance.