Sint-Lievenscollege
Encyclopedia
The Sint-Lievenscollege is a Catholic group of schools in Ghent
Belgium
, composed of a number of elementary and primary schools, a secondary general school ('humaniora') and a secondary vocational trade school.
Till 1881 the college was located in the Hotel Daman in the Koningstraat. In 1881 the school moved to its present location on the Zilverenberg, close to the confluence of the rivers Leie and Scheldt
. Du Buisson, a tradesman, had constructed a spacious mansion in Louis XV style there in the 18th century. Its garden ran to the bank of the Leie. The house was later inhabited by senator Jan Vergauwen, one of the members of the Belgian National Congress that drafted the 1831 Constitution. Since 1990 the principal building of the college is a protected monument.
The number of pupils increased and by the end of the 19th century the school gained its look that it maintained until the 1950s-60s, under the impulse of then superior Rev. Gabriël Van de Gheyn.
During the interbellum the school became a Dutch-speaking institution (as of the school year 1936-37). The same period also witnessed the successful development of a vocational brewery school that, in 1946, became an independent school and further developed into the present industrial University College Saint Lieven. In 1928 the college took up the old tradition of forming the Schola Cantorum
of the Saint Bavo Cathedral
.
Since 1946 the school has known an explosive expansion as a result of the democratization of education in Belgium. The school's programme of classical studies in Greek and Latin was expanded with programmes in Latin-Mathematics, Latin-Sciences, Sciences A and Sciences B. This expansion was accompanied by a large construction project in the period 1963-1967 that gave the school to a large extent its presentday look under the impulses of Superiors Rev. Paul Schaillée and Rev. Albert De Schepper. Wellknown is the chapel developed by architect Marc Dessauvage. The school also bought the sporting facilities Westveld on the border of the communes of Destelbergen and Sint-Amandsberg (the Nachtegaalstadion). Furthermore, the school had a department in Sint-Amandsberg that became independent in 1965 (Sint-Jan-Berchmanscollege).
In 1999 new construction works included a new gym, under the impulse of superior Rev. Julien Van Malderen.
Since the start of the school year 2003-2004 the school is governed exclusively by secular staff.
The school has its own groups within the youth organisations Katholieke Studenten Actie (KSA) and scouts (VVKS).
In 1963 additional primary schools were established in the Eeklostraat in the commune of Mariakerke-Kolegem, and in Sint-Amandsberg (H. Hart). The latter school merged, in 1965, with the secondary department in the Heyveldstraat, and became the independent Sint-Jan-Berchmanscollege.
In 1968 the primary school in the Sint-Pieters-Aalststraat (Sint-Pietersbuiten) was transferred by the Brothers of Charity
to the Sint-Lievenscollege.
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, composed of a number of elementary and primary schools, a secondary general school ('humaniora') and a secondary vocational trade school.
History
2 October 1865 was the starting point of education at the then Institut Saint-Liévin. On the initiative of the diocese of Ghent, this new school was created for the education of Catholic middle class boys. Mgr. H. Bracq put the school under the protection of Ghent's patron Saint Livinus. On the first schoolday, 24 pupils were present.Till 1881 the college was located in the Hotel Daman in the Koningstraat. In 1881 the school moved to its present location on the Zilverenberg, close to the confluence of the rivers Leie and Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
. Du Buisson, a tradesman, had constructed a spacious mansion in Louis XV style there in the 18th century. Its garden ran to the bank of the Leie. The house was later inhabited by senator Jan Vergauwen, one of the members of the Belgian National Congress that drafted the 1831 Constitution. Since 1990 the principal building of the college is a protected monument.
The number of pupils increased and by the end of the 19th century the school gained its look that it maintained until the 1950s-60s, under the impulse of then superior Rev. Gabriël Van de Gheyn.
During the interbellum the school became a Dutch-speaking institution (as of the school year 1936-37). The same period also witnessed the successful development of a vocational brewery school that, in 1946, became an independent school and further developed into the present industrial University College Saint Lieven. In 1928 the college took up the old tradition of forming the Schola Cantorum
Schola Cantorum
The Schola Cantorum de Paris is a private music school in Paris. It was founded in 1894 by Charles Bordes, Alexandre Guilmant and Vincent d'Indy as a counterbalance to the Paris Conservatoire's emphasis on opera...
of the Saint Bavo Cathedral
Saint Bavo Cathedral
thumb|right|225px|Sint-Baafs CathedralThe Saint Bavo Cathedral is the seat of the diocese of Ghent. It is named for Saint Bavo of Ghent....
.
Since 1946 the school has known an explosive expansion as a result of the democratization of education in Belgium. The school's programme of classical studies in Greek and Latin was expanded with programmes in Latin-Mathematics, Latin-Sciences, Sciences A and Sciences B. This expansion was accompanied by a large construction project in the period 1963-1967 that gave the school to a large extent its presentday look under the impulses of Superiors Rev. Paul Schaillée and Rev. Albert De Schepper. Wellknown is the chapel developed by architect Marc Dessauvage. The school also bought the sporting facilities Westveld on the border of the communes of Destelbergen and Sint-Amandsberg (the Nachtegaalstadion). Furthermore, the school had a department in Sint-Amandsberg that became independent in 1965 (Sint-Jan-Berchmanscollege).
In 1999 new construction works included a new gym, under the impulse of superior Rev. Julien Van Malderen.
Since the start of the school year 2003-2004 the school is governed exclusively by secular staff.
The school has its own groups within the youth organisations Katholieke Studenten Actie (KSA) and scouts (VVKS).
Other schools
In 1955-56 the Sint-Jorisinstituut, composed of a primary school, a secondary modern sciences school and a secondary trade school, was integrated in the Sint-Lievenscollege. The secondary school was integrated in the Sint-Lievenscollege, whilst the Sint-Joris primary school (that later moved to the Goudstraat and ultimately merged with the primary school of the Sint-Lievenscollege in the Keizer Karelstraat) and the trade school were maintained independently. In the same period the primary school of the Sint-Lievenscollege moved to buildings in the Keizer Karelstraat, until today its location.In 1963 additional primary schools were established in the Eeklostraat in the commune of Mariakerke-Kolegem, and in Sint-Amandsberg (H. Hart). The latter school merged, in 1965, with the secondary department in the Heyveldstraat, and became the independent Sint-Jan-Berchmanscollege.
In 1968 the primary school in the Sint-Pieters-Aalststraat (Sint-Pietersbuiten) was transferred by the Brothers of Charity
Brothers of Charity
The Brothers of Charity are a Catholic institute of religious brothers and associate members at the service of the people most in need in the field of education and health care. The institute was founded in 1807 by Canon Peter Joseph Triest in Ghent, Belgium, who also founded three other religious...
to the Sint-Lievenscollege.
Well known alumni
- Dirk Blanchart, singer-composer
- Siegfried BrackeSiegfried BrackeSiegfried Bracke is a Belgian politician and is affiliated to the N-VA. He was elected as a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 2010. Before his political career he had a long career as a journalist, working for the Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep.-Notes:...
, journalist - Walter Capiau, radio and television host
- Jo De Meyere, actor
- Bob De Moor (acteur), actor
- Luc De Vos, singer
- Bavo Dhooge, author
- René Jacobs, tenor and director
- Alain Platel, choreographer
- Marc Platel, journalist
- Piet Piryns, journalist
- Luc Van den BosscheLuc Van den BosscheLuc Van den Bossche is a Belgian socialist politician and father of Freya Van den Bossche.He graduated as a Doctor in law at the University of Ghent in 1970. Luc Van den Bossche was a Member of Parliament for a number of years and cabinet member in several federal and regional governments in Belgium...
, minister - Zeger Vandersteene, tenor
- Leonce-Albert Van Peteghem, bishop of Ghent
- Tony Van ParysTony Van ParysTony J.M.M. Van Parys is a Belgian CD&V politician.Van Parys was first chosen to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 1985, on a CVP ticket...
, minister - Jef Vermassen, lawyer
- Jef Wauters, artist