Dutch Cabinet considering stricter compulsory education on civics, norms and values

The State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education, Mariëlle Paul, is considering withdrawing the exemption from compulsory education for children whose parents believe that there are no schools in the area that match their philosophy on life. The Public Prosecution Service recently decided to stop enforcing the rules against children who are sat at home without exemption, which is why Paul is contemplating an update to the rules.

The VVD member said during a debate that the withdrawal of the exemption for what is described as directional objections is now a real possibility. “It is not certain whether all these children are receiving education at home,” Paul said.

It is a legal obligation to home-school children if they do not go to school due to “directional objections.” It has been stated that a total of 700,000 children throughout the country are currently not going to school.

Paul is one of many MPs who are concerned by the Public Prosecution Service’s decision to no longer prosecute parents who keep their children at home without an exemption. “I was taken aback by that decision,” said Paul.

MPs have also spoken about their concerns regarding the waiting lists for schools and transport options for students within the tailored education project. Tailored education was invented to ensure that all students are given a place in the education system that suits them. The hope was that this would lead to fewer students being sent to special education facilities.

Lisa Westerveld of GroenLinks-PvdA said that she does not understand how Paul has been praising the tailored education system. “It has been over 10 years since this was implemented, and there are currently more children sat at home than there were before that time.”

Westerveld added that many motions and plans regarding the subject have not been followed up on by the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament. “Maybe we should tighten the reins and debate this more often.”