Bill proposal to reduce truancy: good idea or not?.

Bill proposal to reduce truancy: good idea or not?.

One of the most important plans of minister Wiersma right now is to reduce absenteeism. A bill for this is being prepared. Parents & Onderwijs is worried about the plans. That is why we are preparing a response. We would like to include what you think. Let us know!

The House of Representatives received in July a letter from minister Wiersma about his absenteeism approach. Wiersma says: “My goal is that children and young people can develop in all cases. I therefore focus on the improvement of Tailored Education. The absenteeism approach fits within this and aims that schools act quickly if it is not going well with children at school to prevent worse absenteeism or even staying home.”

What is in the absenteeism bill?

With minister Wiersma’s letter comes a new bill with extensive explanation (note: download starts immediately). This proposal is a first elaboration of his absenteeism approach. It consists of three parts:

1. Clear registration at schools
   Schools will register all types of pupil absenteeism by hour or lesson hour. They will mention the reason for absence, divided into categories. The absenteeism policy of schools will have required elements and this policy must be easy to find for pupils and parents. The categories and elements will be determined later. Schools will also share all absenteeism data, after a report of unauthorized absence, with the attendance officer. This means that not only unauthorized absence will be shared, but all illness notifications too. For example, if your child was sick or had to go to the hospital.
2. More data to Partnership Tailored Education
   Partnership Tailored Education will get access to the absenteeism data from schools and the exemptions under article 5a of the Compulsory Education Act via the absenteeism registry. The goal is to better equip Partnership Tailored Education to counter absenteeism and organize a full offer of education.
3. Role of Partnership Tailored Education in exemption article 5 under a
   The proposal involves the educational perspective in exemptions based on the Compulsory Education Act, article 5 under a. The independent doctor, who advises on an exemption, must involve the educational opinion of the Partnership Tailored Education. There will also be more variation in the duration of an exemption. The steering role of municipalities is more firmly anchored; they ask the Partnership Tailored Education for advice.

Concerns about focus on attendance at school

Parents & Onderwijs has some concerns about this absenteeism approach. Our biggest concern is the emphasis on ‘attendance’ in school. This does not solve the main reasons for absenteeism, such as lack of Tailored Education or reduced capacity of a child. Pushing attendance can even cause extra pressure and stigmatization of children who are absent. We are critical of the assumption that more registration leads to more insight into children. Truly seeing children and staying in contact with them and their parents does not happen by ticking boxes in a system. Time and space to see children and talk together are needed.

Critical about sharing data

Further, we have serious concerns about the plan to give the municipality (through the attendance officer) potential access to children’s data, often medical in nature. Legal rules to share data without consent of the child and/or parents must be handled very carefully. This can only happen if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages and risks. In our view, this is not the case here. This concern also applies to sharing (individual) absenteeism data with the Partnership Tailored Education.

Pressure on compulsory education or exemption

We are in principle positive about involving the educational perspective in granting an exemption 5a. We think that all children have the right to education and thus access to (publicly funded) Tailored Education. However, this alone does not solve the problem of children who do not attend education. They often feel forced into an exemption because of pressure from compulsory education and lack of Tailored Education.

Join the conversation!

Parents & Onderwijs is working on a response to the plans in the coming period. We do this based on daily talks we have with parents and other parent organizations. We would also like to include your opinion. What do you think about this proposal? Let us know before August 31 via this form! You can also email your questions or response to Marieke Boon, theme advisor Tailored Education: marieke.boon@oudersenonderwijs.nl. Or respond yourself to the internet consultation via this link.