Parents and Plantsoon join forces

Parents as a driving force

LAB Driven Education is independent, recognized, and subsidized. The first school opened in Sint-Amands in 2016, followed by a second one in Sint-Niklaas six years later. LAB aims to blur the boundaries of the classroom because there is a need for an inspiring and challenging green extension of the learning space.

Teacher Mieke: "We want to use the green space as an educational asset: we also have a focus on natural sciences. The second part is well-being. A large, green environment stimulates and inspires, both mentally and physically. And finally, we especially want to increase involvement in the natural environment. The more that young people are involved, the better they realize what nature needs. We are also an open school, and this certainly applies to our green environment: local residents can simply walk in and enjoy the greenery."

The school in Sint-Niklaas had already drawn up a plan with a landscape architect, but it was the parent council that enthusiastically took the lead in obtaining subsidies and helped guide and shape the plans. Parents Tom, Geert, Marijke, Lieven, Mieke, and Rembrandt were immediately supported by teachers and management.

Rembrandt: "I greatly value nature and biodiversity; I am also involved in it professionally. This was a great opportunity to do something with it outside of work, something that benefits the children. There is a lot of space here; we can create enormous added value, especially if we involve the students sufficiently and it is managed well."

Geert: "We have already achieved a lot. Many wadis have already been constructed, as have hills. We have already planted 1,000 trees and shrubs. It's nice to be part of this. We put trees in the ground that our grandchildren can still play under. Or that our children can later say that they helped plant."

Rembrandt: "I look forward to seeing how this can develop further. Which plants we can place where, how we can give space to natural development. Together with the students, we look at what is already occurring on the site and what new species are emerging. For example, the students were recently very concerned about the frog eggs lying in a drying canal. Together we looked for where and how we could move them."

Tom: "Children get the opportunity here to do something they cannot do at home. To climb trees at school, for example, because they only have a terrace at home. This is possible at few other schools."

Teacher Mieke: "When we as teachers stand on the playground and supervise, we sometimes wonder: where is this still possible? High school students digging ditches, building camps, playing in the mud. Wonderful to see."