Nearly 20,000 kids did not attend school last academic year

Last school year, 19,273 children did not attend school for part of or the entire year without an exemption, according to the compulsory education count by the education agency DUO. A solution was found for 8,123 of them during the year.

The number of pupils subject to compulsory education who did not attend school at all increased by 1,685 compared to the 2022/23 school year. Compulsory education applies to children from the age of 5 until the end of the school year for 16-year-olds.

In a letter to parliament, State Secretary Mariëlle Paul (Education) wrote that the number of pupils not attending school has increased since the coronavirus crisis. That has several causes, she said, mentioning the influx of newcomers, such as children who fled from Ukraine, and waiting lists for specialized education.

The VVD State Secretary said she is working on solutions such as digital at-home education for pupils who need it. Last school year, 2,200 pupils were helped with customized education so that they could still receive lessons.