Flemish Schools Face 16-Year Wait for Construction Subsidies
Flemish schools are now waiting an average of 16 years for construction subsidies through the standard AGION procedure, according to figures obtained by Flemish MP Brecht Warnez (CD&V) through parliamentary questions to Education Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA). The waiting period has more than doubled from 6–7 years in 2010, revealing a severe and deepening backlog in educational infrastructure funding across Flanders.
Context
The subsidies, administered by the Agency for Infrastructure in Education (AGION), support free subsidized education as well as schools run by cities, municipalities, and provinces. Community education (GO!) receives funding through a separate mechanism but faces similar pressures. The figures, reported by Het Laatste Nieuws, show that AGION is currently processing applications from 2010 — meaning schools that applied 16 years ago are only now being handled.
“It is completely absurd,” Warnez told Belga News Agency. “If a child is born now, you know that with the existing waiting lists, you can no longer build a school for that child.”
Key Developments
The crisis unfolds despite what the Flemish government describes as record investment. In November 2025, Minister Demir announced a €3.2 billion investment plan for school infrastructure over the 2024–2029 legislative term — the highest level ever allocated, as P-Magazine reported. Annual budgets are set to rise from €571 million in 2025 to €751 million by 2029.
Yet demand continues to outpace supply dramatically. In 2025, only 149 files were approved through the standard procedure for larger new-build and renovation projects, while 372 new applications were added — a ratio of roughly one approval for every 2.5 new applications. The expedited procedure for smaller urgent works fares significantly better, with 326 of 339 applications approved in 2025, a 96% approval rate.
“But if only four approvals come in against ten standard applications, then we have to be honest that the waiting time for new school infrastructure will continue to grow,” Warnez said.
Analysis
The central paradox of this story is that record investment coincides with a record waiting list. While Minister Demir has secured unprecedented funding, the structural gap between supply and demand continues to widen. The waiting list has more than doubled since 2010, indicating a systemic rather than cyclical problem that predates the current government.
Several factors compound the issue. The aging Flemish school building stock, combined with increasingly stringent construction requirements around energy efficiency and safety, has driven up both demand and costs. The federal government’s decision to reduce VAT on school construction from 21% to 6% made building cheaper for schools, potentially further increasing demand. Additionally, the Flemish government has reallocated funds from other areas — including laptop budgets — to boost construction spending, yet the bottleneck persists.
According to parliamentary documents obtained by Warnez from the Flemish Parliament, the standard procedure for larger projects remains the primary bottleneck. The growing student population in special education requires particularly targeted investments.
Political Implications
The figures serve as political ammunition for the opposition CD&V against the N-VA-led coalition government. Warnez’s framing — that a child born today cannot expect a school to be built in time — is designed to resonate emotionally with voters. The story broke alongside other education funding controversies, including a crisis over student transport funding and cuts to study grants, painting a picture of an education system under financial strain despite record overall spending.
What’s Next
Minister Demir has not yet announced specific measures to address the bottleneck in the standard procedure. The annual budget is projected to reach €751 million by 2029, but it remains unclear whether this will be sufficient to reduce the waiting list. Key questions remain: What is the total backlog in euros, and how does the €3.2 billion compare to the actual need? How does Flanders’ situation compare to other Belgian regions or neighboring countries?
For now, thousands of schools across Flanders continue to wait — some for more than a decade — for the funding needed to build, renovate, or modernize their facilities, while a generation of students learns in aging infrastructure.