Kontich (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In June 2025, parents camped outside Sint-Jozefinstituut in Kontich for upper-grade spots. Director Doucha Volckaert says the law blocks digital registration beyond 1st year, causing stress and unfair access.
As VRT News reported, parents in Kontich camped outside the Sint-Jozefinstituut, Belgium, for over a day. They wanted to get their kids into the upper grades of secondary school. Unlike first-year enrollments, which are online, these spots are filled by waiting in line.
Elke and other parents stayed up all night, hoping their children would get in. They mentioned that they were tired and worried, dealing with traffic noise and uncertain if their efforts would pay off. They just hoped their place in line would secure a spot for their child.
Why are parents still camping outside SIL Kontich in 2025?
According to officials, parents are frustrated because they still have to camp out to get their kids into school in 2025. They want the online registration system used for first-year students to be used for older students too.
They mentioned that the problem is that there aren’t enough spots in popular schools, like Sint-Jozefinstituut, which offer special programs. Parents have to wait in line, sometimes even sleeping outside, to try and get their children a place.
“Unfortunately, there is only a digital registration system for the first year of secondary school. We also do not want parents to camp here,” responds director Doucha Volckaert.
The school’s director, Volckaert, says they can’t use a digital registration system for older students, even though it would help a lot. They want to make a digital list in June 2025 to set up interviews, but the law won’t let them. Because of this, the school has to use the old way of doing things, where the first ones in line get a spot.
According to officials, SIL Kontich is popular because it offers many different programs, like general, technical, and vocational studies, all in one place. Unlike other schools nearby that focus on just a few areas, SIL Kontich helps students who want to try something new.
The director, Volckaert, wonders if this is because there aren’t enough different schools and programs in the area. Even after parents waited all night, there was no guarantee of getting a spot because the number of openings changes each year.
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