Budget day 2026: the plans for education.

Budget day 2026: the plans for education.

On budget day, the cabinet’s plans for 2027 were announced. For primary education, secondary education, and vocational education there will be about €368 million extra. The largest part of this goes to reversing cuts from the previous cabinet. Furthermore, from 2029 schoolbooks and other learning materials will be free for young people under 18 in vocational education, and a public AI provision will be created for schools.  

Make lateral entry more attractive 

To tackle the teacher shortage, the cabinet is setting aside €79 million to make lateral entry more attractive, increasing to €88 million per year. Schools will get help recruiting and guiding people who enter education from another profession. 

Vocational education: free learning materials from 2029 

For vocational students under 18 years old, learning materials will be free. From 2029, €80 million will be structurally available for this.  

A public AI provision for schools 

The cabinet is allocating €10.7 million in 2027 for a public AI provision for fundamental education. This will allow schools to use artificial intelligence safely and responsibly, with clear agreements about privacy and protection of student data. The ministry wants to prevent schools from becoming dependent on one commercial provider. 

Speech from the throne: not a word about education 

This year, education was not mentioned in the speech from the throne. Only once there was a mention of vocational, higher professional, and university education, and that was in the context of the talent strategy with which the cabinet wants to find staff for sectors with shortages.  

Next steps 

The lower house will discuss the education budget in the week of October 27 to October 29.