Beernem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Sint-Lutgart Secondary School in Beernem, started in 1945, is closing due to low enrollment, with only 18 students in 2024. Director Miek Kemel confirmed just 8 registered for next year.
As VRT News reported, the Sint-Lutgart Secondary School in Beernem, a municipality in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, is shutting down after almost 80 years. The closure of Sint-Lutgart is due to low student numbers. According to the town, the school was more than just a place to learn; it helped build community.
The building won’t be empty. Next year, the technical academy and music school will move in, both important parts of Beernem. The nearby primary school will still use the gym and dining hall. A decision about the building’s future will be made in October 2025.
Why is Sint-Lutgart school in Beernem closing after 79 years?
The school, which joined the Skobo group in 2010, started in 1945. It used to offer 4 years of secondary school, but for a long time, it only had the first grade. The school mainly took students from Beernem’s primary schools. It was a small school that helped local kids start their secondary education.
Sint-Lutgart generally had anywhere between 70 and 100 students, and sometimes even over 100 in the beginning years of the 2000s. Officials indicated that the small school had its reputation in the community. It offered a close-knit education in a familiar place for many of Beernem’s families.
In recent times, the number of students at the school has gone down a lot. In 2023, there were only 73 students, and this year, there are just 18. Fewer kids, different choices by parents, and the popularity of bigger schools nearby caused the drop. The school board and Skobo group had to close the school.
“There were only 8 students registered for the coming school year,”
Says general director Miek Kemel of the Skobo school group.
“That is not enough to keep the school open for another year.”
According to officials, Sint-Lutgart Secondary School in Beernem was a popular choice for families who wanted their kids to stay nearby for the start of secondary school. Parents liked the idea of keeping their children in the local community. Back then, parents usually chose the school.
They mentioned that now, students have more say in where they go to school. This change has caused the school’s numbers to drop. More and more, kids in Beernem are going straight to bigger schools in Bruges.
