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The compulsory education officer.
Sometimes as a parent you deal with a compulsory education officer. What exactly do they do? When will you meet them? Who contacts the compulsory education officer? How do you get in touch? What about fines and punishments?
When do you meet the compulsory education officer?
The compulsory education officer is involved in the following cases:
- Unauthorized absence: your child does not go to school while they should. For example, if your child skips class or goes on holiday without permission.
- Frequent absence: for example, during long illness a school can contact a compulsory education officer for help, besides a youth doctor. But this differs a lot per school and region.
- Your child gets an exemption from compulsory education.
Responsibilities of the compulsory education officer
The responsibilities and tasks are as follows:
- Checks if parents, children and schools follow the law and if children are enrolled at a school.
- Informs and advises parents and schools about compulsory education.
- Handles applications for exemption from education.
- Enforces unauthorized absence. For repeated unauthorized absence, the compulsory education officer can write a report for the public prosecutor. This means parents or children can get a fine or other punishment.
Who contacts the compulsory education officer?
Usually the school contacts the compulsory education officer. As a parent you can also contact them yourself if you want.
Schools must report frequent unauthorized absence to the compulsory education officer. This happens if your child misses 16 hours of lesson or practice time in a row across 4 teaching weeks without a valid reason. This applies to all children under 18 years old.
How do I contact the compulsory education officer?
The compulsory education officer works for the municipality. This is the case in every municipality. You can find contact details on the municipal website.
Fine or punishment
Yes, you can get a fine or punishment. The compulsory education officer can enforce the law if parents and children do not follow it. Usually the officer first talks to you and your child.
Does your child keep missing school without permission? Then the officer can write a report and send it to the public prosecutor. You as parent and your child (from 12 years and older) can be held responsible for missing school. Referral to Halt can happen without a report.
Unjust enforcement
Sometimes the officer thinks an absence is unauthorized, while the child really cannot go to school. This can cause a lot of stress and doubt. In this case, please contact our advice point as soon as possible.
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