The bill is intended to ensure that schools develop a better and preventive approach to school absenteeism. This includes proper registration and monitoring of the attendance and absence of children and young people under the age of 18 who are still subject to compulsory education. This will give schools a better understanding of absenteeism and enable them to take action sooner to prevent long-term school absenteeism. The aim is that this will also improve cooperation between schools and compulsory education officers.
Preventing absenteeism
Vincent Fafieanie of the NJi is positive about the bill. “The new approach is an important support for promoting school attendance. The bill provides for authorised as well as unauthorised absences to be registered. We know that there is a strong connection between the two. By gaining an overview of all absences relating to a student, schools can start talking to the student and their parents at an early stage. This allows preventive agreements to be made to prevent long-term absenteeism.”
Autonomy
According to Fafieanie, it is important that all children receive an education. “This also includes children who suffer from physical or psychological problems. Education promotes your autonomy. Thanks to the new bill, more attention will soon be paid to the educational opportunities that are available for these children. This will give them prospects for working towards an appropriate form of education, possibly in combination with care. This measure promotes children’s development, even when they are unable to participate in education for an extended period.”