The Netherlands is failing pupils that grow up in poverty: Youth Education Fund

Hundreds of thousands of children in the Netherlands struggle at school because they grew up in poverty, a report from the Youth Education Fund that was published on Friday has stated. The Netherlands has been given a “severely below average” rating when it comes to equal development opportunities for children. Reasons given for the children’s strugges at school are stress, the fact that they are overtired, and do not have glasses or a safe place to play.

One in four primary school pupils are said to struggle with stress. This often comes as a result of a lack of money at home. Children sometimes do not have their own bed, forcing them to sleep on the floor at home. A total of 229 schools requested a bed or desk for students to sleep at during the last school year.

Around 28,000 children throughout the country do not wear glasses despite needing them because their parents cannot afford the costs. “This is concerning, because if you can’t see well enough, then you can’t learn well enough,” the Youth Education Fund wrote.

Despite the School Meals Program, there are still children who do not have enough food at home. There are also neighborhoods in the Netherlands where it is not safe for children to play outside.

The fund is receiving more and more healthcare applications for children with mental health issues in which play therapy is not an option. The fund also received at least 3,000 requests for a bicycle or bicycle-related items for pupils.

Schools that have a lot of pupils who grow up in poverty struggle to attract high-quality teachers because the work pressure is too high. Around 72,000 children, of which most have a handicap, are picked up too late, too early, or not at all when it comes to school transport.