Financial stress at home costs Dutch children a month of classroom time annually
Financial stress at home is causing Dutch children to lose nearly a month of adequate classroom time annually, a study by SEO Economic Research (SEO Economisch Onderzoek) shows. Teachers from 514 schools reported that three in ten fifth-grade students face stressful home situations, often linked to money problems. Six percent of these children have no bed of their own, and almost a quarter come to school without enough breakfast, leaving many exhausted and restless.
Hans Spekman, director of the Jeugdeducatiefonds, told De Telegraaf, “If there is not enough money at home for these basic needs, it is only logical that children often arrive at school feeling agitated, sad, or defiant. This creates unrest in the classroom, and lessons cannot begin immediately.”
The lost teaching time—up to 30 minutes per day—adds up to nearly a month over the course of a school year. Spekman added, “Less teaching time leads to poorer school performance, which in turn harms these students’ future income.”
Schools increasingly rely on the Youth Education Fund (Jeugdeducatiefonds) to provide essentials like glasses or beds. The foundation urges political investment in education, including the deployment of “bridge officers” to connect schools with families. Spekman said, “This restores calm in the classroom, allows teachers to focus on teaching, and ensures children can learn again. Some schools lack bridge officers or sufficient hours."
The study also highlights teacher shortages at schools with high poverty rates. Spekman noted, “Teachers at these schools face additional challenges. They deserve higher pay, beyond temporary bonuses, and need the space and trust to do their jobs properly.”
Financial inequities are reinforced by voluntary parent contributions, which fund school excursions. “Children at low-contribution schools often have fewer opportunities to broaden their world. Schools with less parent funding must receive sufficient resources so these children can expand their horizons,” Spekman told De Telegraaf.
