An ambitious policy aimed at (older) young people, aimed at detecting as well as addressing challenges at an early stage, and focusing on prevention rather than cure, is lacking. It takes courage and resources. This money, however, we are already spending.
7.798 euros
Cost of a repeating pupil
Belgium has a disproportionate number of repeaters in secondary education, with a cost of 7,798 euros per child per year.
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Belgium has a disproportionate number of repeaters in secondary education, with a cost of 7,798 euros per child per year. Nearly one young person in 10 leaves secondary education without a diploma and for disadvantaged young people from Brussels of non-European origin, this figure rises to almost one in two, according to certain studies.
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Unfortunately, young people who leave school early often become NEETs, i.e. young people aged 15 to 29 «Not in Education, Employment or Training» . According to some estimates, a NEET costs society around one million euros during its lifetime. However, the means of preventing early school leaving, repetition and NEETs are limited; more visible measures are often favored, such as support when the damage has already been done.
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Redirect resources
How to do better in the future? To give more importance to prevention, we must introduce a series of measures that cut across different age groups, skill areas and levels of power.
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Let’s focus investments early on and prioritize support for vulnerable young people.
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Belgium spends above average on education , but not always in the best way or at the right time in the life course. Some of the best measures for the development of our (vulnerable) youth are even found elsewhere. Think, for example, of quality and accessible childcare services. We plead for a redirection of resources. Let’s focus investments early on and prioritize support for vulnerable young people.
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Let’s also – as much as possible – break down the walls between areas of competence and levels of power. Our young people deserve a transversal approach focused on long-term results . Excessive fragmentation between skill areas and power levels often does not benefit their development, as it prevents long-term oriented work. He who sows is often (too) impatient to reap. Make efforts and results more visible – through funding models such as «Social Impact Bonds» – can help in part, but this approach requires above all a famous political courage.
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As for the private sector, civil society and families themselves? Let’s all roll up our sleeves for the benefit of the youngest and most vulnerable and cheer for prevention — at all levels — more often.
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Sofie Foets Founder of TADA ASBL
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Simon Ghiotto Fellow Itinera
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