Dutch schools open with many students still missing textbooks
Secondary schools across the Netherlands have opened this month with significant numbers of students still missing textbooks, forcing parents and teachers to raise concerns about disruption in classrooms, De Telegraaf reports.
A national survey of about 430 parents by Parents & Education (Ouders & Onderwijs) found shortages in all three school regions. In Zuid, where classes resumed two weeks ago, 19 percent of students had not received their full set of books. In Noord, which began this week, the figure was 20 percent. The situation is worst in Midden, where schools start next week, with 37 percent of parents reporting incomplete deliveries.
The delays come despite improvements compared to last year, when only 60 percent of families said they received all materials on time. This year, the share is up to 75 percent.
Teachers say the gaps are already disrupting lessons. Without books, they are making photocopies and adjusting lesson plans, leaving less time for teaching. Parents say first-year students in particular feel anxious about falling behind.
A rule change is adding pressure: schools may now use each book for only one year, rather than five, multiplying demand for new materials.
Book distributor Van Dijk has described the summer delivery effort of nine million books as a massive operation. Rival distributor OsingadeJong has faced sharper criticism. In Noord and Zuid, one-third of parents who named the company reported missing books; in Midden, two-thirds did.
OsingadeJong disputed those findings, saying deliveries in Noord and Zuid were on schedule and only slightly delayed in Midden. The company cited its own poll of 1,790 families, in which 1,756 reported packages arrived on time. Director-owner Hajo Osinga said digital learning materials are available until books are delivered.
