In the space of ten years, the number of children taught at home by their parents has doubled within the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Figures to this effect were published on Monday by the Department of Education for the region.
In 2008, 502 children were taught at home, compared to 1,044 during the academic year which has just finished. On the rise the phenomenon, however, remains highly marginal in terms of a school population of some 900,000 children in Brussels and Wallonia.
The department says that the increase in the number of children schooled at home observed between 2008 and 2013 is due, essentially, to improvements in monitoring compliance with compulsory education. Several children were then taught at home without their parents actually declaring it.
Between 2013 and 2017, the number of children educated at home has remained stable before seeing an increase of more than 10% during the academic year which has just finished. The department states that the choice to educate children at home does not exceed one school year for nearly half of all children affected.
Amongst children being taught at home, we notice that the share of girls and boys is almost equal. The proportion of children of primary school age and secondary school age is of the order of 55% and 45% respectively.
The Brussels Times
