Belgium"s Education Materials Reveal Bias on Palestinian Conflict

In September 2024, a significant study titled 'Shaping Minds, Shaping Society' was published, marking the first comprehensive investigation into educational materials related to the Middle East conflict in Belgian schools. Conducted by IMPAC, an international non-profit organization based in Brussels, the research analyzed teaching documents from both Dutch-speaking and French-speaking schools across Belgium. The study was reviewed by experts in various fields, including history and antisemitism, highlighting its thoroughness and credibility. The findings revealed concerning elements within the educational materials, including antisemitic content, historical inaccuracies, and polarizing narratives that lack factual support. Emeritus Professor Mark Elchardus, who wrote the foreword for the report, expressed alarm over the extent to which these materials undermine educational objectives. He emphasized the need for stricter oversight regarding the funding and content of teaching resources provided to schools. The report also pointed out that many creators of these materials are not qualified teachers, often coming from NGOs, which raises questions about the quality and reliability of the educational content. Additionally, audiovisual materials produced by organizations like VRT and RTBF, as well as resources from Enabel, were found to breach educational regulations. The implications of this study extend beyond Belgium, as IMPAC suggests that the methodology could be applied in neighboring countries, where similar research has not yet been conducted. This highlights a broader concern regarding the potential influence of biased educational materials on students' understanding of complex geopolitical issues.