House of representatives wants investigation into free laptops at school.

House of representatives wants investigation into free laptops at school.

A majority in the House of Representatives wants to investigate whether laptops and tablets should be free for secondary school students. This brings an important discussion about school costs back on the table.

Why this investigation?

More and more schools work completely digitally. Laptops are no longer an extra, but a fixed part of education. Yet parents often have to pay for these devices themselves.

According to several political parties, this causes inequality: not every student has access to the same quality laptop. Many schools also work with the principle ‘bring your own device,’ making differences between students visible in the classroom.

Possible expansion of the law

The House of Representatives asks the cabinet to investigate whether the current law on free school books can be expanded. This law dates back to 2009 — a time when laptops were not yet standard learning tools.

If the law is adjusted, digital learning tools such as laptops and tablets could also fall under it in the future. The cabinet must clarify by 2027 at the latest whether this is feasible.

What does this mean for parents?

For parents, this could make a big difference in the long term. The costs for a laptop quickly rise to hundreds of euros per child. At the same time, such a device is often compulsory for school.

A national scheme could ensure:

• Less financial pressure on families
• More equal opportunities for students
• Clarity about what schools may exactly ask for