‘Kwaliteitsvol onderwijs is voor mij veel meer dan cognitieve prestaties’: Bruno Vanobbergen, topman van het katholiek onderwijs | De Morgen

Key Goals of the Five-Year Plan

The plan prioritizes enhancing the quality of education, going beyond mere cognitive achievements to encompass personal development and civic engagement. This includes fostering critical thinking about societal challenges, such as declining voter turnout among youth.

Addressing Challenges

The plan acknowledges the challenges posed by teacher shortages and tight budgets, proposing solutions through increased collaboration between schools, community organizations, and businesses. Examples include partnering with adult education programs to assist non-native-speaking parents and collaborations with VDAB (Flemish employment agency) for work-oriented training.

• Improved Collaboration: Merging school boards to streamline administration and optimize resource allocation.
• Curriculum Optimization: Consolidating specialized programs (technical training, humanities) to ensure resource efficiency.
• Strategic Use of Technology: Integrating AI-powered learning tools to enhance personalized learning and improve learning outcomes, while acknowledging concerns about excessive screen time.

Focus on Holistic Education

Vanobbergen argues that a rich curriculum, including literature, can develop critical thinking skills and help students grapple with significant life questions, balancing academic achievement with broader personal and social development.