BRUSSELS – Flemish ministers for Education Frank Vandenbroucke and Public Health Inge Vervotte have announced that a general ban on smoking will come into effect on 1 September 2008 in all Flemish schools.

No smoking will be allowed on the playground and there will no longer be smoking areas for teachers. Starting in the 2007-2008 academic year more resources will be devoted to preventing students from smoking and helping those who do to stop.

Smoking in school buildings has been banned for some time. The schools themselves may determine at the moment whether smoking on the playground is permitted.

The discussion on a general smoking ban on the playground started early this year when a father from Ostend complained about the smoking on the playground at his daughter’s school. Minister Vandenbroucke argued at that time that the best solution would be a smoking ban on the playground at all schools.

The Flemish council for education, on which the educational networks and unions are represented, are now advising that a smoking ban be introduced in September 2008. Minister Vandenbroucke is following this advice and will include the ban in a decree.

Public Health and Welfare minister Inge Vervotte is setting aside EUR 150,000 to prevent smoking in education starting next school year.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news