Belgium: teachers paying out of pocket for classroom costs
With the school term about to begin in Belgian Flanders, a new survey has revealed that nine out of 10 teachers will spend over €93 on average out of their own pocket on classroom materials.
Throughout the school year, teachers spend an astounding €261 from their own salary on materials for the classroom, according to a survey published by the Christelijk Onderwijzersverbond (COV), Education International’s (EI) affiliate in Belgian Flanders. Nearly 70 percent of teachers buy classroom supplies and just under 60 percent will bring in self-crafted materials. More than two-thirds of teachers also invest in books for the class library.
“The operational resources of schools providing basic education have not been indexed for several years,” said COV General Secretary Marianne Coopman. “Schools find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.” This leads to a situation where “teachers then invest themselves to deliver quality education”.
Digitalisation burden
Even if schools are encouraged to invest in digital learning, the operational resources remain the same. Seven out of 10 teachers said they bought printer ink to use for schoolwork at home.
The increase in the use of technology means that lessons given on digital devices must also be prepared digitally. However, more than half of the teachers have no access to school laptops. Teachers are nevertheless expected to do a lot of schoolwork at home, Coopman said.
“Do you know lots of other homeworkers who must provide laptop, desktop and/or Internet access without additional compensation, or workers who are deprived of the necessary equipment in their workplace?” she asked.
The COV has urged the Flemish government to devise an investment plan for basic education that will extend beyond the current legislative period.
