From compulsory education to right to education.

From compulsory education to right to education.

Never again students without education. This is the goal of the private member's bill that changes the Compulsory Education Act into a right to education. There will be a stronger role for the youth doctor and partnerships tailored education get a duty of care for (threatened) dropout. Ouders & Onderwijs is positive about the changes but finds a good transition scheme and more room for tailor-made solutions important.

This bill aims to give all children access to funded education. This fits with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which describes the right to education. In the new law, the youth doctor has a major role at school. Moreover, partnerships tailored education receive a duty of care notification to the youth doctor if a student risks dropping out.

Duty of care

The partnership tailored education gets a legal duty of care notification to the youth doctor in case of a threatened dropout of a student. The parent must be informed of this notification beforehand. The youth doctor is involved in the consultation between the school, the partnership tailored education, the caregiver, and the parents/student. This way, the parent is not confronted with a large group of professionals sometimes having far-reaching legal powers.

Enforcement power

Ouders & Onderwijs thinks the enforcement power of the youth doctor is not yet well developed in the bill. The enforcement power only applies later. The relationships are often disturbed, and it is clear that those involved cannot find a solution. By focusing on a conversation with the student, parents, and education/care, the aim is to work things out together. If the youth doctor really wants to stand above the parties, further training is probably needed. It is uncertain whether youth doctors have enough specialist knowledge. Also, whether they know the educational possibilities in the region.

Transition scheme

Finally, it is important to have a good transition scheme for the group of children who now have an exemption because there is no education offer for them. That educational offer must become available, requiring expanded options for education at another location or funding other forms of education, such as homeschooling. Tailor-made solutions are important here.

Read more

If you want to know exactly what we think, you can read the response of Ouders & Onderwijs. On our Knowledge Base you can read more about the current Compulsory Education Act.

Questions

You can of course contact our staff. By email: vraag@oudersenonderwijs.nl or by phone: 088-6050101. We are reachable on workdays between 09.30-12.30 and 13.00-16.00.