From 1 September 2026, a series of initiatives will be introduced in Flemish nurseries and schools to enhance children’s proficiency in Dutch.
Children as young as two and a half years old will receive additional language support in nurseries, and small-group language lessons will be organised in nursery schools.
In primary schools, pupils with insufficient Dutch skills will join “language hero classes” starting in their second year, designed to help them transition back to regular classes as quickly as possible. Those with minor language delays will receive three extra hours of Dutch lessons per week.
For secondary schools, class councils will have the authority to assign three additional hours of Dutch lessons per week to students struggling with the language.
Official figures from the Flemish Department of Education show the percentage of children who do not speak Dutch at home has risen from 18% to over 27% in the last decade. According to Flemish Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA), students with linguistic deficits perform worse in other academic subjects.
To deliver these extra Dutch lessons, the ministry plans to enlist teachers, speech therapists, linguists, retirees and external organisations. Importantly, current teachers will not be diverted from their regular duties in schools to fill this need.
