The government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation has just appointed the new boss of the One, Déborah Dewulf. What will be its mission, at a time when the Court of Auditors points to several problems in the organization of the reception of early childhood?
I share the observation of the Court of Auditors. It will serve us to prepare with Madame Dewulf the new one management contract of the One. The new director general will have to establish the Missions of the One with regard to the budget which will be granted to her and refocus the organization on her essential missions. The first being the reception of children as well as the necessary revaluation of the status of reception staff.
Each government announces The creation of new reception places And yet we remain below the necessary threshold to ensure optimal coverage of the territory, in particular because reception places also close each year. What will be different this time?
I have the mandate to create 5,000 new places. I am delighted that the Court of Auditors notes that the ONE does not collect information on the reception structures to verify if they are viable financially. It is however essential to know the economic viability of these reception environments. We have therefore decided to entrust the collection of these data to Wallonia Health, a structure which depends on Wallonia Entreprendre, for this to be the case in the future. Because the observation of the disappearance of reception places is challenging. By collecting this data, we will make sure that public money is used wisely.
It would take 7,000 to 10,000 additional crèche seats in Brussels
Do you think some structures are not viable?
It is the operating cost that has a big impact on the finances of the reception environments.
In the increasingly complicated budgetary context In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the Minister-President announced that each sector should save money. So one will not cut it. What to do with you about?
In any case, we will not save in the creation of new places announced. But it is clear that these economies will force the One to return to its basic missions, its major role in supporting childhood and promotion of health at school, in particular.
What missions will we have to abandon?
Over time, the ONE has developed a whole series of services that have had their relevance but which at one point or another being assessed. For example, there is a study service, while there are other services of the same type that exist in Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Why not make them work together? There are also a whole series of paper publications that could be disseminated in a digital way. There is a whole series of optional missions that can be called into question.
Flanders gives itself the means to support its crèches
Will there be job losses?
It is not on the agenda. I hope that the ONE is more efficient, works less in silo and the central seat will be better connected with the field teams.
What can you already say about the future one management contract. When will he be signed?
It will be the tool that will account for the essential missions of the ONE. For timing, we are somewhat late since the new board of directors has not yet been set up. I hope to be able to achieve this for the first half of 2026. We must therefore extend the current management contract a little. What I want is that one is a tool that simplifies the task of parents and professionals in the sector. I repeat it, the One must return to its basic missions.
On the board of directors, the negotiations to designate the president or have caused a little ink to flow, we now know who will take this position, we announced the name of Lucie Demaret, the elected provincial Mr of Hainaut and companion of Mr. Bouchez?
On the name, I don’t know yet. But the presidents of the MR and the committed agreed (the MR will have the presidency, editor’s note).
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