Ternat (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The cities of Ternat and several others from the region request that authorities maintain the current method of distributing after-school childcare subsidies. The upcoming decree next year will use municipal-child population statistics to allocate government financial support.
Ternat, along with other neighbouring municipalities, fears the recently passed decree will cut subsidies for afternoon child-care services. Starting in 2026, authorities will distribute funds according to child populations in municipalities, which may result in inadequate support for many childcare facilities. The proposed regulation makes local authorities anxious about needing to reduce benefits for childcare programs or ask parents to pay more.
The After-school Care and Activities (BOA) decree has established that 104 municipalities are facing major financial cuts, with Ternat being one of those affected. The funding subsidy received by Ternat will decrease from €815,000 to €331,000 by 2026 and will fall another €100,000 by 2029.
“104 municipalities will receive far fewer resources for after-school care,”
Says Karolien Huylebroek. The alderman was professionally involved with that decree for years.
“The Flemish government does provide an additional 80 million euros for BOA, but it is unclear what exactly will happen with that. Municipal authorities can distribute the resources for childcare themselves, but we will receive far less money.“
In Ternat, the subsidy drops from 815,000 to 331,000 euros. By 2029, it will drop another 100,000 euros.
“952 children use that after-school care. We want to maintain the quality and of course the bill has to be paid. But we don’t want to pass the bill on to the parents.”
The alderman, therefor,e writes a letter to the competent minister, Caroline Gennez (Vooruit).
“I have written to several similar municipalities so that Ternat, Lennik, Beersel, Denderleeuw, Pepingen, Dendermonde and Bever have now signed this letter. Nothing will change immediately, but it is now that we must intervene. We are requesting a consultation and also expect urgent answers,”
Says Huylebroek.
What’s the history of after-school childcare in Ternat & Flanders?
Flanders has historically provided financial assistance through municipal subsidies to promote both accessibility and affordability of after-school childcare, such as Ternat. Flanders focuses on delivering high-quality care since childcare facilities accommodate children who reside within their municipal boundaries as well as others outside their jurisdiction.
The problem of insufficient funding continues to affect after-school care institutions which face financial difficulties maintaining their budgets. A new BOA decree will go into effect in 2026 to allocate subsidies based on child numbers as part of a strategy to equalise funding. The planned redistribution approach to subsidies threatens to destabilise current service systems, especially in municipalities where children attend from across borders, such as Ternat.
