Most children in the Netherlands go to school from the age of 4. From the age of 5, your child must go to school every school day, which is called compulsory education. In Hilversum, the Regional Office for Pupil Affairs Gooi and Vechtstreek (RBLGV) monitors compulsory education.
What do you need to know
Children have a right to education and a duty to attend school. Parents or guardians must ensure that their child is enrolled in a recognized school. A recognized school is a school that complies with the law and quality standards. You can find recognized schools in your area on the website scholenopdekaart.nl .
Compulsory education
- A child's compulsory education starts on the first school day of the month after the child has turned 5 years old. For example: if your child turns 12 on 5 March, compulsory education will start on the first day of school in April. At that time, your child is obliged to go to school
- Education is compulsory up to and including the school year in which a child turns 16. This means that it is required by law that they go to school every official school day until their 16th birthday
- Sometimes your child can be exempted from compulsory education. Your child does not have to go to school
- In some cases you can also request extra (holiday) leave
Qualification obligation
- The qualification obligation starts when the child turns 16.
- Qualification requirement means that it is mandatory that young people go to school every school day until they are 18 years old or have a basic qualification. A basic qualification is a diploma for HAVO, VWO or MBO level 2, 3 or 4
Unauthorized absence
- If your child does not go to school without good reason (for example truancy), this is called unauthorized absence. That means it is not approved for your child to be absent from school
- Schools are obliged to report unauthorized absence to the Education Executive Agency (DUO). DUO will pass this on to the attendance officer of the municipality where the child goes to school. In Hilversum it checks Regional Office for Apprenticeships Gooi and Vechtstreek (RBLGV) compulsory education
- The compulsory education officer is looking for a solution together with the school, the parents and the young person (from 12 years old).
Registration of early school leavers
- The attendance officer pays special attention to the group of vulnerable young people. These are young people who, due to various circumstances, need extra attention in order to obtain a school diploma
- It is a statutory duty of the municipality to register and monitor young people over the age of 18 who do not attend school and do not have a basic qualification.
Exemption from compulsory education
In a number of cases, parents are exempted from compulsory education
There are 3 possible types of exemptions :
- Not going to school for good reason. You can request this from the director of the school
- Fewer hours of education for preschoolers aged 5 years. You can request this from the director of the school
- For enrollment in a school. You must do this annually before 1 July. You request this at the RBLGV
Leave of absence
There are 3 types of leave possible:
- Vacation leave. You can request this from the director of the school
- Special leave. You can request up to and including 10 days of leave from the director of the school. You can request more than 10 days of leave at the RBLGV
- Religious Obligations. You can request this from the director of the school
