Population Growth in Brussels and Inequality of Access to Kindergarten

Brussels Studies La revue scientifique électronique pour les recherches sur Bruxelles / Het elektronisch wetenschappelijk tijdschrift voor onderzoek over Brussel / The e-journal for academic research on Brussels 2016 Collection générale | 2011 Population growth in Brussels and inequality of access to kindergarten Croissance démographique bruxelloise et inégalité d’accès à l’école maternelle De Brusselse demografische groei en de ongelijke toegang tot de kleuterschool Perrine Humblet Translator: Jane Corrigan Publisher Université Saint-Louis Bruxelles Electronic version URL: http://brussels.revues.org/1045 ISSN: 2031-0293 Electronic reference Perrine Humblet, « Population growth in Brussels and inequality of access to kindergarten », Brussels Studies [Online], General collection, document 51, Online since 19 September 2011, connection on 12 January 2017. URL : http://brussels.revues.org/1045 The text is a facsimile of the print edition. Licence CC BY www.brusselsstudies.be the e-journal for academic research on Brussels Number 51, September 19 2011. ISSN 2031-0293 Perrine Humblet Population growth in Brussels and inequality of access to kindergarten Translation: Jane Corrigan What is the social equality of access to kindergarten, the main means of entry into the education system? In Brussels, population growth combined with the social and economic divide threaten equal access to kindergarten. The demand for pre-school education starts at age 2 ½ and is widespread in the region, while the number of children has increased considerably, especially in the poorest neighbourhoods. The study presents an analysis of enrolment statistics per municipality and shows that in many areas, there is a widespread saturation of kindergartens despite the opening of more than 300 additional classes since 2000-01. This situation has led the organising authorities to enact new enrolment regulations, mainly for the first year Perrine Humblet is a doctor of public health science and a teacher at Public Ecole de Santé Publi- of kindergarten and for the welcoming class. An que, Université libre de Bruxelles. She works on early childhood policies and programmes, as well as exploratory qualitative survey shows that these on the social determining factors of health. She is expert for the Observatoire de l'Enfant de la Région regulations are not neutral with respect to the social bruxelloise and for international organisations (European Commission Childcare Network, OECD and and cultural conditions of families. They constitute UNESCO). She recently published: Meulders D, Humblet P, Maron L, & Amerijckx G (2010). Politiques the basis of an unfair system of access to kinder- publiques pour promouvoir l’emploi des parents et l’inclusion sociale. Bruxelles: Politique scientifique garten at the expense of families whose children fédérale, Série Société et avenir, Academia Press. would benefit most from starting school in kindergarten. They also have a negative impact on access to nurseries by delaying the age of access to Perrine Humblet, +32(0)02 555 40 61, [email protected] kindergarten until age 3 and up. Christophe Mincke (Senior Editor), +32(0)2 211 78 22 / +32(0)473 21 02 65, [email protected] is published thanks to the support of Innoviris (Brussels Institute for Research and Innovation - Brussels-Capital Region) is published thanks to the support of Innoviris (Brussels Institute for Research Brussels Studies Perrine HUMBLET, « Population growth in Brussels and inequality of access to kindergarten », Brussels Studies, Number 51, September 19 2011, www.brusselsstudies.be 1 3. This study goes deeper into the impact of the demographic context in Brussels on the access to kindergarten (IBSA, 2010). It examines the question as to whether the sudden lack of availability can have a negative impact on the equality of access to school. This question is in keeping with the manifesto ‘Pauvreté et école, quelles priorités?’ of the Délégué général aux droits de l'enfant.1 In order to answer it, one may Introduction turn to the experience acquired with nurseries and child care, where the lack of availability is widespread. In this context, apart from the fact that 1. A recent study on childhood conditions in the Brussels Region the needs of part of the population are not being met, there is also so- underlined the population increase and questioned their impact on early cial inequality in terms of access to existing services. Generally, despite childhood in a region where social, economic and cultural polarisation is equal needs, the use of child care services is less frequent in the least pronounced (DUSSART & MOTTINT, 2007). The question which is dealt privileged families. This is due to individual factors regarding the de- with in this article concerns the extent to which this context affects the mand, as well as to contextual factors concerning the characteristics of equality of access to kindergarten. It is based on the principle that the the services offered and the management of schools. opportunity to attend kindergarten must be guaranteed by the availabil- 4. At individual level, attention is drawn to the fact that, more often, ity and accessibility of services and cannot be influenced by character- the most privileged families choose the best services from a qualitative istics related to the child or his or her family. point of view and use them in circumstances which are often more fa- 2. In Belgium, this level of education is the main means of entry into vourable to the child (HUSTON et al., 2002). The process involved is the education system. It is a level in its own right which – together with more pronounced when there is a lack of availability, due to the fact primary education – makes up basic education. It is considered to be a that families with a higher education level are better informed of avail- necessary level for learning basic skills; it is free and open to all from ability problems and are likely to put their children on waiting lists on the age of 2 ½, but is not compulsory. In Europe, Belgium is in a lead- time (MAHIEU, 2005). ing position with one of the highest enrolment rates (Eurydice, 2009). 5. From a contextual point of view, the provision of services plays a The European objectives established in Barcelona in 2002 to reach an selective role. It has been shown that, in Brussels, families with a low attendance rate of 90% by 2010 for children over the age of 3 have education level and immigrant families are victims of unintentional se- been exceeded for many years in Belgium (UNICEF, 2008). These high lection, partially due to the low availability of public services in their rates are the result of a huge demand for pre-school education and its neighbourhoods and to the eligibility criteria favouring families in which widespread availability. The subsidy scheme which allows the supply to both parents work (VANDENBROECK et al., 2008). In one study con- be adapted to the demand by basing itself on the number of children ducted in Brussels, the use of waiting lists for nurseries had an impact enrolled greatly contributes to this. It applies to basic education as a in terms of social selection (LORANT, 1996a, b). It has also been shown whole and does not consider the fact that kindergarten is not part of that, in Belgium, the social inequalities related to use are more pro- compulsory education. nounced when there is a low level of availability in the municipality of residence than when it is higher (FARFAN-PORTET, 2010). 1 http://www.dgde.cfwb.be/index.php?id=3043 Perrine HUMBLET, « Population growth in Brussels and inequality of access to kindergarten », Brussels Studies, Number 51, September 19 2011, www.brusselsstudies.be 2 6. What are the social consequences of a lack of availability in pre- residents. In 2007, 1,456 births were the object of a report by the primary education? This question is all the more crucial when the social Brussels Region health services without being registered with the Na- and economic inequalities which affect the children in the region are tional Registry (OSS, 2010). serious and when the mother tongue of a significant part of the popula- 9. According to the perspectives of the planning bureau for the tion is neither French nor Dutch (JANSSENS, 2008). In order to answer 2007-2060 period, the number of births will continue to increase, it, we shall begin by describing the situation based on regional and mu- reaching a peak in 2023. As the birth rate began to increase around nicipal indicators related to supply and demand. We shall then explore 1995, we shall use 1995 as a reference for comparisons over time. The the question of equal access by analysing the mechanisms which un- increase in the number of births since 1995 varies according to munici- derlie enrolment in schools when the stakeholders on the ground ob- pality : it is most pronounced in Anderlecht, Brussels City, Molenbeek serve a lack of availability. We shall also consider it in connection with and Schaerbeek. This is also the case in other smaller entities such as the early childhood sector. Evere, Ganshoren, Ixelles, Jette, Koekelberg and Saint-Gilles, while the birth rate figures have remained stable throughout the period in Uccle or Woluwe St Pierre for example, and have decreased in Watermael- Population growth and the number of pupils in pre-primary edu- Boitsfort (HUMBLET, 2010). cation 10. The number of pupils in the age group of school-age children in- 7. In the Brussels Region, the French and Flemish Communities creases at the same rate (Table 1). Between 1 January 1996 and 2008 manage their education systems separately. The result is that certain the population of children aged 3 to 5 increased by 18%. This increase organisational characteristics may differ such as the level of support affects large municipalities such as Molenbeek (+36%) and other small and financing (JANSSENS et al., 2009).

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