Public Prosecution Service pushing for departure of Islamic School Foundation board

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has culled for the suspension and firing of the board at Islamic school foundation Stichting Islamitische School Amsterdam. The prosecutors have sent an application to the court in Amsterdam.

The foundation has three Islamic schools in the capital, with around 1,100 students.

Outgoing minister Mariëlle Paul, who presides over primary school education policy, has decided to lower the amount of money the schools get from the government. They are receiving 20 percent of the regular budget for the time being.

The foundation's budget had already been decreased by 60 percent in January. The government will completely stop transferring funds in June if there is no improvement.

The Education Inspectorate discovered around 300,000 euros worth of unlawful expenditure in 2022. The finance minister at the time, Dennis Wiersma, wanted a new board at the school and ordered the schools to pay the money back. In Paul's opinion, the policies at the schools still have not improved enough since.

The OM thinks that the foundation is teetering on bankruptcy. That would not be in the best interests of the student and teachers. Therefore, a new board should be appointed, the OM stated.