Passion-based learning TEXT: ANNA VILLELEGER | PHOTOS: SCHOLA NOVA
Surrounded by idyllic Belgian countryside, less than 50 kilometres from Brussels in Walloon Brabant, you will find a small, independent school, with a revolutionary approach to learning. At Schola Nova, an international school of classical humanities for pupils aged eight to 17, the myth of Latin as a ‘dead’ language has firmly been dispelled. This is one of the only schools in Europe to teach spoken Latin, with students coming from all over the world to communicate in the classical language. Intrigued to find out more about the establishment’s unique combination of tradition and experiment, we spoke to co-principal Alexandre Feye, whose father Stéphane Feye founded Schola Nova in 1995. 50 | Issue 75 | March 2020
Housed in a beautiful 18th-century former convent, Schola Nova offers cosy classrooms with stunning views. There is also the possibility to board, meaning the school attracts pupils from various countries. Peek inside any lesson at Schola Nova and what will immediately strike you is a feeling of joy. “We are an association of passion. Walking around the building you can sense the enthusiasm of our teachers, who are highly qualified and multitalented.” This of course has a knock-on effect on students, whose enthusiasm for learning is palpable.
Past meets present Schola Nova’s aim is to produce capable young humanists, able to express themselves in several languages and adept
at reasoning both with the heart and the mind. By studying Greco-Latin classical humanities, students gain a profound knowledge of their roots, as well as an insight into other cultures. “The Greco-Latin culture represents the cradle of civilisation, and we believe this European heritage must be safeguarded and passed on. We don’t want the students of today to miss out on this tradition,” asserts Alexandre. “Such studies enlighten us and help us to understand the world in which we live, and to respect different civilisations. By exploring our roots in more depth, we can better understand and respect others.”