Dutch schools cancel trips after voluntary parental contributions backfire
Dutch schools face funding crisis after voluntary parental contributions backfire, researchers warn
The Netherlands’ 2021 shift to voluntary parental contributions has left schools with less money for extracurricular activities, forcing entire classes to cancel trips and undermining educational equality, according to a new study. Researchers say the policy—intended to prevent any child from missing out—has had the opposite effect, particularly in schools serving low-income families.
Since the change, schools report a sharp drop in contributions, with many now unable to fund activities like school trips, sports days, or cultural outings. "The irony is stark: no child is excluded, but now no child gets to go," said a spokesperson for the Dutch education ministry, as reported by *NRC* . The issue will take center stage Wednesday when State Secretary Judith Tielen (VVD) debates the matter in parliament.
The policy’s impact is most acute in schools with higher concentrations of students from financially struggling households. Researchers argue the funding shortfall exacerbates existing inequalities, as wealthier schools can still rely on donations from better-off parents. No immediate solution has been proposed, though education advocates are calling for a return to mandatory contributions or increased state funding to cover the gap.
The debate comes as Dutch schools grapple with other financial pressures, including the rollout of free menstrual products—a measure that has reached 180,000 students but faces stock shortages in some schools . The government plans to expand the program to homeless shelters, prisons, and youth centers, though no timeline has been set.
- publico
- de volkskrant
- independent
- der standard
- nrc
Articles
Produtos menstruais gratuitos chegaram a 180 mil estudantes. Medida deverá ser alargada Ministério prevê alargar medida a pessoas em situação de sem-abrigo, casas de abrigo, prisões e centros educativos. Ainda não há data para reposição de stock em escolas onde faltam produtos.
publico · 5 days ago
Ironie van de vrijwillige ouderbijdrage: nooit meer hoeft één leerling het schoolreisje te missen, maar dan gaat soms de hele klas niet In 2021 werd de ouderbijdrage voor scholen vrijwillig. Nu hebben veel scholen minder geld en schrappen activiteiten – vooral scholen met leerlingen uit gezinnen met geldzorgen. Onderzoekers stellen dat dit kansengelijkheid ondermijnt. Staatssecretaris Judith Tielen (VVD) gaat woensdag in debat met de Tweede Kamer.
nrc · 5 days ago
650 miljoen meisjes trouwden voor hun achttiende verjaardag Er zijn geen aanwijzingen dat het kindhuwelijk overal ter wereld aan banden wordt gelegd. En dat terwijl het verrassend goedkoop kan worden uitgebannen.
nrc · 5 days ago
Ik proost op de scholen die dit jaar pronken met hun zakpercentage
de volkskrant · 5 days ago
I moved to Japan and enrolled my child in a local school. It showed me a different way to raise an independent child.
news.yahoo.com · 5 days ago
Texas charter school goes to court over who should be named valedictorian An investigation done by the school found that it had calculated the GPAs correctly and had not been wrong in naming a valedictorian, according to the report
independent · 5 days ago
Hormoonloze anticonceptiepil leidt tot te veel zwangerschappen Het middel dat in hogere dosering ook in de abortuspil wordt gebruikt, zou als hormoonloze anticonceptiepil kunnen werken. Nu blijkt in een studie dat met dat middel te veel vrouwen toch zwanger raken, of een buitenbaarmoederlijke zwangerschap krijgen.
nrc · 5 days ago
Schüler wollen besser auf ihre finanzielle Realität vorbereitet werden Steuern, Sparen, Schulden, Veranlagen – all das sind Themen, die junge Menschen zunehmend interessieren. Von der Schule fühlen sie sich darauf nicht gut vorbereitet
der standard · 5 days ago