Important!! Temporary school site at Arts-Loi - Transfer of Secondary pupils

Dear parents,

On 22 June 2018, the Secretary-General of European Schools (SG) announced the possible upcoming decision from the Belgian Council of Ministers, which is expected to be issued in July 2018, concerning the opening of a temporary site in the centre of Brussels, near the Arts-Loi underground station. The building is currently used for Belgian governmental offices and has the capacity to host between 1000 and 1200 students. Given its geographical location, the idea of transferring S6-S7 students from EEB2 and EEB3 European Schools and from all sections as from September 2020 was underlined as the most suitable for implementation.

The following arguments were put forward in this respect:

a.     Avoiding risks of refusing Cat. 1 enrolments in the future

b.     Decreasing pressure on overcrowded schools

c.     Avoiding further delays in delivering EEB5 (since the temporary site would be left empty).

It will not be possible to provide school transport facilities for the temporary site due to the road situation around the quarter (Avenue des Arts - Rue du Commerce), while canteen/cafeteria arrangements could be extended. The building, as such, does not provide any rooms for extra-curricular activities as well as for school gym sessions. Special provisions must be made, inter-alia, for their educational options, leisure time and student connection with life/activities in their school of origin. A new Deputy Director position will be appointed, while students will maintain their status from an administrative viewpoint.

The preliminary discussion allowed parent representatives to voice their fundamental opposition to this project, which is not only premature from a technical perspective (the technical study to be prepared by the Régie des bâtiments will not be ready before June 2019) but raises also substantial educational, mobility, logistical, safety/prevention and work-life balance concerns of all families that are likely to be affected from 2020 until 2024/2025. By then a final arrangement for the student composition in the five European Schools, namely EEB1 including Berkendael, EEB2, EEB3, EEB4 and EEB5 in Evere and for any temporary site, is to be adopted.

A further GdS meeting is planned in September 2018 with a view to analysing any alternative options.

We will keep you informed as matters develop.  

Best regards,

Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 

Background information:

On the same day, two meetings were held :

1) The Steering Group for the Impact Assessment study on the future of Brussels European Schools and

2) The Monitoring Group (Groupe de Suivi, GdS), which has as its mandate the infrastructure situation of all European Schools in Brussels (see our message above).

The respective aims of those meetings were as follows:

1) To review the draft call for tender concerning the launch of an impact assessment study analysing long-term challenges for the Brussels European Schools based on the recent Board of Governors' financing decision. The publication of the call could take place in October/November 2018 and the study must be completed within 12 months (by January 2020) and

2) To receive information from the Task-Force set up by the Monitoring Group early in 2018 with a view to analysing options for addressing over-population in Brussels Schools. Current figures say that 400 new enrolments in all Brussels Schools are expected every year, EEB1 - EEB2 - EEB3 are overcrowded, while EEB4 (Laeken) is fully booked; the current capacity in Berkendael (EEB 1 Annex) in September 2018 reaches the number of 700 pupils against a total capacity of approximately 1000 pupils).    

As regards the Impact Assessment study itself (under 1)), parent representatives (APEEE Presidents of EEB 2 and EEB 3) contributed to improving the wording of the draft call for tender. A subsequent meeting on this matter is envisaged for July.