Practical schools get extra funding to tackle poverty
More than a hundred additional schools can help pupils with costs that stand in the way of school, work placements or qualifications.
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More than a hundred additional practical education schools will receive funding to support pupils from financially vulnerable families. The money can be used for items including work shoes, transport, a bicycle or necessities for a work placement.
The expansion builds on a pilot involving 25 practical education schools last school year. According to the Jeugdeducatiefonds, almost 140 schools in total can take part in the Van Pro naar Prof project in the new school year. Schools apply for the money for specific costs that might otherwise prevent pupils from attending lessons or work placements.
These are often amounts that seem small in a school budget, but pose a major problem for families with little financial room. A bicycle that no longer works, a public transport card, work shoes or a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) can determine whether a pupil arrives at school or a work placement on time.
The Jeugdeducatiefonds says that at least half of pupils at practical education schools grow up in relative poverty. This is a statement by the fund, not new independent nationwide research. The organisation uses the figures to support its argument that financial assistance should be made available directly through schools, particularly in practical education.
One example from the project concerns a pupil who wanted to do a work placement in childcare but could not afford the cost of a VOG. In another case, a bicycle was paid for after public transport proved too expensive and a conventional bicycle was not feasible. Such examples show that financial problems affect not only wellbeing, but also attendance and the transition into work.
Practical education schools prepare young people for jobs in areas including construction, metalwork, horticulture, hospitality, logistics, and health and welfare. Work placements are an important part of the education. If pupils cannot take part because of a lack of money, this can affect their development and their chances of finding a job.
The scheme makes support available more quickly, but is not a structural solution to poverty. Schools remain dependent on temporary subsidies and must decide for each pupil which expense is necessary. The support available also differs between schools and municipalities.
The expansion highlights how educational institutions are increasingly taking on a role in addressing financial problems at home. Supporters see this as a practical way to promote equal opportunities; critics may fear that schools are taking over tasks that belong to municipalities, social services or national income policy. The scheme removes the immediate barrier, but not the poverty from which that barrier stems.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- More than a hundred additional practical education schools can apply for funding for specific financial obstacles.
- The money is provided through the Jeugdeducatiefonds as part of a collaboration with the Sectorraad Praktijkonderwijs and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment.
- The support can be used for costs relating to school, work placements and employment.
Left
Arguments Participation in education should not depend on parents’ income. The government should make this support structural and strengthen wider efforts to tackle poverty.
Values Equal opportunities, financial security and public responsibility.
Consequences Structural funding could reduce shame and dropout, but would require greater public spending and clear criteria for allocation.
Centre
Arguments A school-based fund is practical because schools quickly see which pupil is getting stuck. At the same time, the scheme should be evaluated and aligned with existing municipal services.
Values Effectiveness, feasibility and tailored support.
Consequences Targeted help can have a rapid effect, but temporary projects may perpetuate differences between schools.
Right
Arguments Schools should help pupils participate, but income support should primarily be the responsibility of parents, municipalities and social services. The scheme should be limited to demonstrable education and work-placement costs.
Values Personal responsibility, targeted public spending and clear limits on government responsibilities.
Consequences A limited scheme prevents schools’ responsibilities from expanding, but may miss pupils whose financial problems are less visible.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The scheme, examples and collaboration were confirmed by NOS and the Jeugdeducatiefonds. The exact number of additional schools has been qualified because the sources use 100, 115 and almost 140 as different ways of counting.
- confirmed More than a hundred additional practical education schools will receive funding for financial obstacles. — NOS reports 115 schools; the Jeugdeducatiefonds refers to more than 100 additional schools. source
- confirmed The project can involve almost 140 practical education schools in total. — This is stated on the Jeugdeducatiefonds project page. source
- confirmed The money can be used for items including work shoes, transport, bicycles and work-placement necessities. — Mentioned in NOS reporting and the fund’s project announcement. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: Another 115 additional practical education schools will receive funding this year.Now: More than a hundred additional practical education schools will receive funding this school year. (The sources use different figures for additional schools and the total number of participants; the more cautious wording avoids false certainty.)
Editor's note
The expansion and the examples were confirmed by NOS and the Jeugdeducatiefonds. The fund gives different figures for additional and participating schools; the exact count has therefore been rounded in the text to more than a hundred additional schools and almost 140 in total.Sources
- Werkschoenen of fiets: meer praktijkscholen krijgen geld om leerlingen te helpen — NOS
- Honderd praktijkscholen krijgen extra budget om geldzorgen van leerlingen weg te nemen — Jeugdeducatiefonds
- Van Pro naar Prof — Jeugdeducatiefonds
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „praktijkonderwijs armoede”
- NOS — „praktijkonderwijs armoede”
- Het Parool — „praktijkonderwijs armoede”