Number of school refusers grows.

Number of school refusers grows.

The number of children who do not go to school for more than 3 months has risen again last year. In 2018 there were 4,479 children not attending school, while last year there were 4,790. This is an increase of 311. And these are the official numbers, there are strong signs that the real number is much higher.

This is frightening bad news. Former state secretary Sander Dekker announced 5 years ago that the number of children not attending school should be zero in 2020. To achieve this, a pact was made in 2016 with education organizations, municipalities and 3 ministries. Now there is no result.

Letter

In the letter that minister Slob sent this week to the House of Representatives about these figures, little urgency is shown. Although more children are not attending school, he stresses that more children get a solution. That is why he speaks of success factors and focuses on the few small bright spots in the figures. He refers to the efforts of municipalities, Partnership Tailored Education, schools and care workers.

Slob also writes that this situation needs complex solutions: ‘It is not only school dropout, but it also leads to social dropout that needs a broad approach with many measures,’ he writes.

Solution

‘If you ask me, it is time to face the more fundamental problems with tailored education,’ says Lobke Vlaming, director of Ouders & Onderwijs. ‘The ministry’s analysis and measures do not match what is really needed for a solution. These are all about preventing children from dropping out by giving them a tailored place, inside or outside school walls.’

Vlaming says the pressure on schools is too high. ‘Teacher shortages, large classes, lack of support staff and workload mean more children fall behind. Teachers are not trained enough to handle differences in class and do not have the knowledge to offer what children need. Children who struggle at school become children not attending school.’ She also thinks there is too little tailored provision. ‘Because there is no suitable school that has space and is close enough, the child stays at home. Partnership Tailored Education are not held responsible for not providing enough places. Custom solutions in the private sector and parental initiatives are blocked because they don’t fit the system.’

Pressure

A growing group of children can’t go to school because of school fear, trauma, depression or bullying. ‘Parents of these children are under pressure to get them back to school quickly. This causes problems and stress and often makes the situation worse,’ says the director of Ouders & Onderwijs. ‘It may also be clear what the child needs, but there is not enough money or too many people involved, so it takes months to get approval.’

Vlaming thinks the letter ignores these fundamental problems. ‘With respect for all initiatives in meetings and research, education must have space to guide children well. If one message comes from the minister, it should be this.’

Position

Ouders & Onderwijs is working with various parent and interest groups and many parents on a position about tailored education. This will be used for the minister’s current evaluation.

For questions about tailored education, visit the thematic page of Ouders & Onderwijs. If you have questions on weekdays, you can call Ouders & Onderwijs at 088-6050101.