This consortium, initiated by Teach for Belgium and including several of its partner schools, aims to improve teaching skills and practices in languages (via immersion) and STEM (sustainable development), while strengthening the European dimension of these schools. More specifically, the project aims to develop initiatives linked to sustainable development and immersion. To achieve these two objectives, we initially planned two types of activities: 1. Training activities linked to the teaching of sustainable development. 2. Job-shadowing in schools in other European countries practicing immersion. We hoped that these activities would lead to a significant increase in STEM projects related to the environment and sustainability in partner schools, as well as a greater awareness of this theme among pupils. At the same time, we wanted to enable language directors and teachers to develop immersion projects in their schools. Ultimately, we hope that the schools taking part in this project can inspire other schools with weak SEIs, particularly in vocational education.
For as long as Teach for Belgium has been working with schools with low socio-economic status in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (FWB), the teachers we support have noted a lack of interest and knowledge among pupils about climate change. Teachers don't always feel equipped to tackle this subject with pupils who feel little concern for it, especially in schools with a low socio-economic index. And yet, in view of the current challenge, it is vital to raise young people's awareness of this issue and equip them to navigate this new reality. A second observation shared by many schools and teachers is the lack of interest in language learning (particularly Dutch), despite its professional necessity in Belgium, and particularly in Brussels. While immersion has proved its worth in Flanders, it is mostly restricted to schools with a high socio-economic index in the FWB. The aim of this project is to improve the knowledge of "Teach" teachers and those of our partner schools in these two areas, so that they can eventually develop projects linked to these two themes.