I learn at the hospital

I learn at the hospital (Ik leer in het ziekenhuis in Dutch or J'apprends à l'hôpital in French) is an umbrella non-profit organisation (or vzw) consisting of Belgian hospital schools and specialised institutions that provides education for long-term ill, hospitalised children at nursery, primary and secondary education level.

This organisation is subsidised by the government as it provides special needs education type 5 (long-term ill children and hospitalised children).

The children can be either hospitalised or staying in an institution. Legally, these schools are set up and maintained within the framework stipulated in the Royal Decree nr. 439 of 11 August 1986 with regard to the rationalisation and programme of the special needs education.

The initiative's website is http://www.ikleerinhetziekenhuis.be/

Example

One of the hospital schools is the University Hospital of Leuven (Ziekenhuisschool UZ Leuven).

This hospital school provides education to children and young people during their stay at the hospital. Students' ages range from 2,5 to 21 years old so it organises nursery, primary and secondary education. Ziekenhuisschool UZ receives financial support by the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training as it is a special needs school, type 5 (for hospitalised children and youth).

In this hospital school, ill children receive tailor-made education (1 to 2 hours of "class" every day) at primary and secondary education level. The lessons and learning methods are organised in coordination with the child's own (regular) school, the overall aim is to limit learning disabilities and work towards social reintegration of the child and there is close contact with the medical staff taking care of the child.

Every day an average of 94 students follow "class" in the hospital school: 18 toddlers, 38 primary school pupils and 38 secondary school students. On average, each child is taught for 21 days. 20% of the hospitals' students already attend a special needs school.

References

• Flemish Ministry of Education and Training: Special needs education types 1-8 (Dutch)
• Royal Decree nr. 439 of 11 August 1986 (PDF - Dutch)

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