Flanders’ plans for mandatory migrant Dutch language classes may fall through

Flanders’ aims to make the NT2 language test compulsory for non-EU citizens from 1 September 2023 may face political obstacles and hard-to-reach deadlines that would make it difficult to adopt.

The NT2 test, which assesses proficiency in Dutch as a second language, is part of the integration programme of the tripartite government of the Flemish region.

Although this test is important for immigrants because it provides access to social housing and other benefits, the project is still far from complete and the deadline is looming.

Several experts from the Centre for Language and Education (CTO) who have been commissioned to conduct an initial pilot study say “the proposed calendar is unattainable” and that the project “needs more time”, De Standaard reports. The experts have also proposed postponing the launch of the NT2 test to April 2024, but the Flemish government wants to stick to the September deadline.

This approach has angered the teaching sector, which deplores the fact that the regional government chose speed over quality.

On Radio 1, Flemish parliament deputy Loes Vandromme (CD&V) notably underlined the need to establish a reliable test, especially considering the legal consequences.

“Tying heavy consequences for people to a test that is not yet reliable is not what Flanders stands for,” said Vandromme, adding that integration cannot become a “lottery”.

“As a response, the [Flemish] minister [for Education] dismisses me as someone who throws a spanner in the works. […] By making the test reliable, we want to strengthen the net and thus build a robust integration policy”, she tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.

Ligo, the basic education centres, and 10 adult education centres already appealed to the Constitutional Court at the start of the school year to contest this new integration policy.

In addition to calling into question the freedom of education, one of the project’s main challenges is its cost of €180, which, if it becomes compulsory, would have to be paid by everyone arriving from non-EU countries.

(Anne-Sophie Gaye, Nina Chabot | EURACTIV.com)