Debate House Of Representatives Declaration Of Admissibility Fraud Tyltylschool Maasgouw.

Debate House Of Representatives Declaration Of Admissibility Fraud Tyltylschool Maasgouw.

On 17 June the House of Representatives debated alleged declaration of admissibility fraud at tyltylschool Maasgouw in Limburg. Several motions will be voted on next Tuesday. The Partnership Tailored Education wrongly claimed money. Parents paid the costs. In this message our concerns and views on this case.

Limburg tyltylschool Maasgouw the topic of debate in the House of Representatives 

Imagine the following situation: a pupil attends special education and needs extra support at school. The Partnership Tailored Education arranges this together with the school via a declaration of admissibility. There are three levels of rising support with a matching budget. Through a parent we got a signal that the category of declaration of admissibility is handled ‘creatively’. 

Changing category from high to low 

In the case that came to light pupils got the category ‘high’ for funding. With this category the school asks for extra funds from the EMB scheme*. Then the Partnership Tailored Education changes the funding category to ‘low’. The school pays back the difference between the ‘high’ and ‘low’ category to the Partnership Tailored Education.  

Parents close the financial gap 

Next the school, still needing money to cover the high support need, asks the parents to pay for the extra support with their own budgets from PGB or WLZ funds. Money from the EMB scheme meant for the school wrongly goes to the Partnership Tailored Education. And parents pay the costs.  

This case came to light at the tyltylschool Maasgouw, a school for pupils with a severe (multiple) disability. On 17 June the House of Representatives debated this situation. 

Parents are the victims 

This practice by the Limburg Partnership Tailored Education, and possibly by other Partnerships Tailored Education across the country, leads to unwanted constructions where pupils and parents suffer. Parents have trouble because their care budget meant for home is used at school. They have no control over how their budgets or their child’s care at school are used.  

Questions from Ouders & Onderwijs, Ieder(in) and Balans 

These effects for parents are the main reason for us, together with Balans and Ieder(in), to bring this to attention. The House of Representatives has already asked questions to Minister Slob. The minister thinks it does not conflict with the law, but it does cause big problems. Both Member of Parliament Van Meenen (D66) and Westerveld (GreenLeft) asked the minister in the 17 June debate to check if other Partnerships Tailored Education act like this. The minister said no signals are received yet. 

Care at home in trouble 

Paying for extra support at school with PGB or WLZ funds causes problems for parents. There is less or not enough money left for care at home. Member of Parliament Kwint (SP) made a motion to map out problems in education financing. The idea is that going to school must never mean less care at home for a child. This motion passed on Tuesday 22 June.

Changing declaration of admissibility without support change 

In short: in this construction the declaration of admissibility is changed without a real reason. There is no change in the child’s care or support need. The advice for EMB pupils is to give a declaration of admissibility for their whole school career because their support need does not change much. It is remarkable that here school funding is lowered a lot while the support level stays the same.  

Our proposal is that a declaration of admissibility change only happens with a changed need. Member of Parliament Van Meenen proposed a motion to only adjust a declaration of admissibility with an updated development perspective plan and in agreement with parents. We like this. This motion also passed on Tuesday 22 June.  

 No say, objection or appeal possible 

The construction described above is not in the Partnership Tailored Education support plan. This plan states how tailored education is organized in the region and how money is shared. A separate agreement was chosen outside the support plan. School participation council rights do not apply. Also, parents have no ways to object or appeal. Parents stand alone with empty hands. We find this unacceptable.  

Concerns for the pupils 

We worry about the pupils at this tyltylschool. These are very vulnerable pupils and they need good support, care and a stable environment. It is extra important for their parents to know what to expect. We call on the minister to make sure all parents of this school have clear information before the new school year about the education, support and care their child gets and what this means for their care budget at home. Member of Parliament Van Meenen made a motion and shared our worries. The motion passed. The tyltylschool and parents will talk to make good agreements about the development perspective plan and care support for their child and its financing.

Ouders & Onderwijs together with parent association Balans and Ieder(in) informed the House of Representatives about these concerns and actions. Member of Parliament Van Meenen asked the minister with a motion to ensure agreements with parents about education and care for next year are made before summer. Minister Slob said this is being worked on hard. 

We hope calm returns quickly to this school and the support and care for these children is well arranged. These children also have the right to good education!  

*EMB scheme: scheme for children with a severe multiple disability.