Bottlenecks for vocational education students who turn eighteen.

Bottlenecks for vocational education students who turn eighteen.

The transition from 17 to 18 years can be a vulnerable period for mbo students. Your legal position changes when you turn 18 and there are changes in the way support and duty of care are arranged. 

In addition, many parents see the transition to mbo also brings a change in parent involvement. Most students start an mbo course around age 16. Many of them come directly from vmbo, havo or practical education track. There, students (and parents) are often used to intensive guidance and active involvement of their parents. 

The change in parent involvement, combined with the transition to 18 years, can cause problems for these students when they do not find or get the right support. 

The transition from 17 to 18 years 

When a student turns 18, their legal position changes and they are seen as legally independent. This legal independence does not mean a student can immediately handle all the responsibilities that come with it independently. 

They may still need support with finances, housing or mental well-being. At mbo, students are more often expected to take action themselves and ask for help when needed. That can be difficult for students who do not yet know when or from whom to ask for help. 

That is why it is good to have more insight into this group, to prevent these problems from growing bigger and leading to dropout. 

Mbo students with a support need 

These problems become especially visible when it concerns mbo students with a support need who face this legal change. The Netherlands Youth Institute has studied this group in an exploration. Ouders & Onderwijs collaborated in the research.  

The research by the youth institute showed that more than a quarter of mbo students have an additional support need. For some students, that need is already known at enrollment, for example due to a chronic illness or disability. For other students, problems arise only during the course.

What can schools do? 

The exploration by the youth institute mentions four important focus points for mbo schools:

• Involve parents and other support figures
  Involve parents or other people important to the student at the start of the course where possible and encourage regular contact afterward.220}”> 
• Don’t let students go when they turn 18
  Keep active contact with students who need support even after their 18th birthday.220}”> 
• Identify support needs early
  By discussing support needs early, a school can better meet what a student needs.220}”> 
• Help students with financial problems
  Spot financial problems as early as possible.

What can parents do? 

Schools are legally required to draw up a support plan on paper for mbo students who need extra support. This states where help is needed, how the school will take the help request into account and what support they can offer. 

If your child turns 18 and needs support, you can have the support plan state that the school involves you in making agreements. When drawing up the support plan, your child can give the school permission for this. 

In addition, as a parent you can also discuss mbo school policy by taking part in the parent council. The parent council is an official advisory body of the school that represents the interests of the student and the parent. Read more about parent involvement at mbo here.