School absenteeism remains a hot topic in Belgium, with growing concerns about the government’s approach to tackling truancy. On 2025-05-30 16:49:00, Line De Witte voiced strong criticism against the Flemish government’s increasing use of fines for families with absent children. She argues that these penalties, averaging around 1,000 euros, do not address the root causes of truancy.
- Line De Witte criticizes ineffective truancy fines
- Government increases fines despite proven inefficacy
- Ombudsman advised abolishing school allowance recovery
- Fines disproportionately impact low-income families
- Government expects more truancy cases ahead
- Calls for addressing root causes, not punishing
Instead of penalising parents, De Witte suggests focusing on underlying issues that lead to unexcused absences. After all, why does the government persist with a strategy that has repeatedly failed? Could there be a more effective way to reduce truancy rates?
Why do fines continue despite evidence showing their ineffectiveness? This approach raises several concerns:
- Ten years ago, the Flemish ombudsman recommended ending school allowance recovery for persistent truants due to its limited impact.
- Fines disproportionately affect disadvantaged families, worsening inequality.
- The government’s projected revenue from fines suggests an expectation of rising truancy, yet no policy review seems underway.
- Line De Witte highlights a pattern of blaming families instead of examining systemic issues in education policy.
As Belgium grapples with truancy, policymakers must rethink punitive measures and invest in supportive interventions. Will the government listen and shift its focus to prevention? Only by addressing root causes can true progress be made.
