On 20 July, the responsible minister, Slob, sent the Lower House a letter about the use of National Education Programme funds for children who are not enrolled in a school. In it, he describes the main outlines of the approach and the subsequent process.

National Education Programme

Through the National Education Programme, funds are available for the recovery and development of education after the coronavirus period. Together with Balans, Ouders & Onderwijs worked to ensure that these funds and opportunities would also be made available to children not attending school. A number of Members of Parliament also called for this in the Lower House. These are children who are not enrolled at a school or who have an exemption under the Compulsory Education Act. These children were not covered by funding from the National Education Programme. A separate budget and approach are now available for them.

Tailored support

The minister wants the organisations Gedragswerk, Ingrado and Ondersteuningsteam Zorg voor de Jeugd to work together to draw up an action plan for every child not attending school. The aim is to get these children back into education. For some children not attending school, such an action plan could be useful. Other children would benefit more from additional opportunities to follow education in a different way. In the view of Ouders & Onderwijs, this proposal does not reflect the contribution made by the Lower House during the 7 June debate or the input they provided on the wishes and expectations of these parents to, among others, the ministry. Ouders & Onderwijs believes that the child should be at the centre. It would therefore be better to establish a right to learn for children not attending school instead of compulsory school attendance. For example, by improving the opportunities for distance learning and digital teaching materials. The money is now going to three organisations and only to a limited extent to the children themselves. In addition, some of these parents have not had positive previous experiences with these organisations, meaning that there is a lack of trust.

What do you think?

Together with the parent association Balans, Ouders & Onderwijs would like to know what you think as a parent. In the coming period, they will speak with everyone involved. They would therefore like to hear what parents and children not attending school think of the minister's proposal and what they believe would be a better approach. You can respond by completing this form from Balans.