Oosterzele (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Oosterzele authorities propose privatizing municipal childcare, citing operational challenges and claiming the current public system is no longer sustainable.
To move the company to a private partner, a market survey will be conducted. At that point, the municipality will simply play a “directing role.”
As an organizer, the organization Opgroeien continues to enforce the municipality. Two of their crèches had to close due to occurrences two years ago.
Currently, the municipality still organizes daycare.
“We are now going to set everything in motion to see who could take over in the future,”
says alderman Tania Vispoel (Voluit Oosterzele).
“We will retain a management role in any case and ensure that someone stays on board to properly guide the transition.”
“We currently have 3 foster parents who look after 8 children and a group daycare centre where 18 children are looked after. The OCMW currently organises childcare in Oosterzele, but it is no longer feasible. The coordinator cannot manage it. The municipality is still obliged to take on the supporting role, but no longer wants to actively operate it.”
It is not yet clear who will take over that role.
“The 3 host parents are certainly not asking to take over on an independent basis. Little will change for them. Perhaps a larger organization such as helan or i-mens will take over their organization. Group care is an emergency care, a lot can change for them.”
Oosterzele is still under supervision by the Opgroeien agency in Belgium.
“As a result, we as a municipality can no longer submit new applications. We want to increase the quantity and also the quality. Due to the fact that we are now in enforcement, that is not possible. We have been marking time for 2 years. If we want to do better, we have to hand it over.”
How will privatization affect the quality of childcare services in Oosterzele?
Research indicates that private childcare providers, particularly those that are for-profit, frequently put financial objectives ahead of the quality of their instruction and care. The quality of care and learning environments for children may suffer as a result of reduced worker pay, increased staff turnover, and decreased investment in child development resources.
Evidence indicates that public or community-based childcare tends to maintain higher and more consistent quality standards, even while some commercial providers offer high-quality services. For instance, as compared to many private childcare facilities, regulated public childcare facilities frequently receive higher ratings on quality evaluations.
For certain families, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, privatization may make things less accessible and affordable, which could result in social isolation. In general, public services are in a better position to guarantee disadvantaged children fair access and assistance.
