Use of NP Education funds for homebound learners must change.

Use of NP Education funds for homebound learners must change.

The way the funds of the NP Education for homebound learners are used must change. The plan now focuses on getting homebound learners back to school. And not on practical support like distance learning as parents indicate.

The responsible minister Slob sent the House of Representatives on July 20 a letter about the use of the funds from the NP Education for children who are not enrolled at a school. He describes the main lines of the approach and the next steps.

National Education Program

The National Education Program provides funds for recovery and development of education after the corona period. Together with Balans, Ouders & Onderwijs has worked to make these funds and opportunities also available for homebound learners. Some members of the House of Representatives also pushed for this. It concerns children who are not enrolled in a school or who have a declaration of admissibility exemption. These children were not covered by the funding of the NP Education. Now a separate budget and approach are available for them.

Tailored approach

The minister wants the organizations Gedragswerk, Ingrado and Ondersteuningsteam Zorg voor de Jeugd to work together to create a plan of approach for each homebound learner. The goal is to get homebound learners back to school. For some homebound learners such a plan might be useful. Other children benefit more from more options to follow education in another way. In our opinion, this proposal does not match the House contribution in the debate of June 7 and our input on the wishes and expectations of these parents to among others the ministry. We think the child should be central. It would be better to create a learning right instead of a school duty for homebound learners. For example, by improving options for distance education and digital teaching materials. The money now goes to three organizations and only a little to the children themselves. Also, these are organizations some of these parents have no positive earlier experiences with, which causes lack of trust.

What do you think?

Together with the parent association Balans, we are curious what you as a parent think. We will talk soon with everyone involved. That is why we would like to hear what parents and homebound learners think of the minister’s proposal and what you think is a better approach. You can respond by filling in this form from Balans.