Education
Dutch primary school
Education includes both general education and social education for children with learning and behavioural difficulties. Compulsory education under Dutch law applies to children of all nationalities from five to eighteen years, but often public schools start at the age of four. Pupils generally progress throught eight grades, primarily based on age groups. Primary schools are govenrment funded and are thus paid for via taxes, but parents will be asked to pay a set fee for 'extra’s '.
Secondary education
There are four types of secondary education:
- Pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO)
- Senior general secondary education (HAVO)
- Pre-university secondary education (VWO)
What are the municipal responsibilities?
The municipality must see to it that students do not lag behind. For this reason language development is stimulated in young children. Dutch law strictly enforces compulsory education (leerplicht) for all children aged 5 to 16 residing in the Netherlands, regardless of their nationality. The compulsory education has been extended to the age of 18, or at an earlier moment when teenagers are qualified to enter the labour market: with a HAVO or VWO diploma (secondary education) or an MBO level 2, 3 or 4 diploma (vocational secondary education). To ensure school attendance the municipality employs compulsory education civil servants. For information you can call Mrs. Monique Broere: (070) 51 22 326 or you can send an email to: mbroere@wassenaar.nl or leerplicht@wassenaar.nl