When school no longer works: "CISP" centres against school dropouts

"It's alright."

Matteo's (name changed by the editor) conclusion so far does not sound like enthusiasm. The 16-year-old has been at the Centre d'insertion socio-professionnelle (CISP) at Solina Jongenheem asbl for around a year. There, he works on bicycles while at the same time working toward a professional future. His time in the workshop, under the supervision of trainer Mike and educator Aurélie, is intended to pave the way for him to train as a bicycle mechanic. "That's the plan now."

Like all the other pupils, Matteo is in the CISP because he had problems with or at school. "Nobody wanted me as a pupil. I always questioned everything, " says the teenager. He wanted to finish school to give himself time to choose a career. But at some point, "school was no longer an option and we had to find a solution somehow".

Solina Jongenheem is one possible answer to situations like this. The non-profit organisation runs one of today's four nationwide centres for social and vocational integration (see info box). According to the Ministry of Education, a fifth centre should be ready to start by the coming school year.

Its aim is to build up young people so that they can either find their way back to school, do an apprenticeship or at least find work. And thus prevent them from leaving school both without qualifications and without prospects.