Convictional signs in official education are over: the text adopted, despite the reluctance of Unia and the opposition

“The school is and must remain a neutral place of learning, a reserved space where each student can build themselves freely without influence, without proselytizing“, recalled, at the start of the general discussion, Diana Nikolic (MR). “The extension of the principle to all staff – reception staff, maintenance staff, cooks, etc. – has been highly criticizedshe admitted. But it is a principle of coherence: all these people are in contact with students, families, and participate in the image of the school“.

This is not Unia’s opinion. Requested by Setca on March 17, the former Center for Equal Opportunities issued an opinion this Tuesday on this draft decree. Eighteen pages in which, like what the Council of State had already done, it finds nothing to complain about regarding a reinforced principle of neutrality for teachers, educators and management, “who embody figures of authority and transmission of knowledge“. But adds that “this ban does not seem proportionate for other functions and other establishments. Unia recalls that the general principle must remain freedom and the prohibition or limitation can only be an exception. In this case, for functions which do not involve authority or transmission of knowledge.”

While Diana Nikolic assured, for the majority, that this text “does not target any particular belief“, the socialist Ibrahim Dönmez, more on the Unia line, saw things differently: “For maintenance or worker personnel, this text goes too far. And will lead the organizing authorities to part with personnel who have, until now, been able to work while wearing signs of conviction. Upon arrival, this will especially penalize women who wear the headscarf. And while the official education departments will have to lay off staff, 50% of students will continue to attend convictional education. It’s hypocritical.” “Yes, your text targets a community”estimates, in the same order of ideas, the PTB Bruno Bauwens.

The art of counter-fire?

A criticism contested by the Minister of Education, Valérie Glatigny (MR): “I disagree: neutrality makes it possible to guarantee equal treatment for each student“. An argument to which Bénédicte Linard responded for Écolo, recalling that “neutrality is already applied at the school, and sanctions provided for in the event of breaches. […] We all share the idea that teaching must be neutral, but this text, urgent for the MR, comes before many others much more urgent for those involved in the school, starting with the organization of the first secondary at the next school year“. “This text is only a counter-fire to make people forget the real problems, and the restrictions“, concluded Bruno Bauwens pour le PTB.