Demir prunes in free laptops for students

Demir had already questioned the Digisprong, so now she is pulling the tractor. She tells VTM News that she does not want to take more money out of buying all students in the Flemish schools a laptop. She would rather spend that money on the school buildings. Exactly how that will work – who can still count on government support, who is not – must become clear in the coming weeks.

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With that, Demir puts a line under a showpiece of her predecessor and party member Ben Weyts. In 2020, it already deducted nearly 400 million euros for the purchase of the laptops, a measure that had to digitize education. There was another 400 million euros in the books for this legislature, for a second round, but it is canceled. Or certainly not complete.

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In December 2024, Demir had already played on that intervention in the Flemish Parliament. « Many school buildings are outdated, » it sounded then. “I see that when I make school visits. Sometimes the fungus is even on the walls. That you think: how is that possible that children will be taught here? When I see that we are taking 400 million euros for laptops, then we have to think carefully about it. Sometimes things have to be put into perspective.  » Because in terms of school infrastructure there is also a lot of work to be done. Schools themselves have to cough up 30 to 40 percent of the cost of such a renovation or construction.

But for the parents of the students it can be swallowing if they suddenly have to purchase a laptop for son or daughter. Much will depend on how much money Demir does set separately for people who do not have the resources themselves. (AGY)