Compulsory education and qualification
Compulsory education
Compulsory education is the legal obligation for children to attend school. Compulsory education law applies to all children/youth living in the Netherlands.
Compulsory education begins on the 1st day of the new month after the child turns 5. Most children attend school from the age of 4. Compulsory education ends at the end of the school year in which a child turns 16. After that, a young person has compulsory education until their 18th birthday. You can read more about this in the topic "What does compulsory education mean".
You, as a parent/guardian, are required to enroll your child in a school and ensure that your child attends school. From the age of 12, a child is partly responsible for attending school.
What does compulsory qualification mean?
From age 16 to 18, the qualification requirement applies. This means that young people without a starting qualification must attend school until their 18th birthday. A starting qualification is at least a diploma havo or mbo level 2. During compulsory education, the same rules apply as during compulsory education.
The following young people are exempt from the qualification requirement:
- Youth who have a certificate/diploma in Practical Education;
- Young people in secondary special education who have followed the labor market-oriented outflow profile or the daytime outflow profile.
Learning is a duty as well as a right
Parents and guardians must comply with the Compulsory Education Act. They are obliged to enroll their child in a school. They are also responsible for making sure their child actually goes to school. Compulsory education is also a right, because every child in the Netherlands has a right to education.
18 years old and did not obtain a qualification?
The flow-through coaches at the flow-through point seek contact with all young people between the ages of 18 and 23 who leave or are at risk of leaving school prematurely, i.e. without starting qualifications.
Information can be found on the website of the Municipality of Helmond.
What if my child does not attend school?
Absenteeism is an important signal of school dropout. To prevent school absenteeism from leading to school dropout, the compulsory school attendance officer engages in a dialogue with parents and the child to determine the cause of the absenteeism. In some cases, parent and/or child (12 years and older) are held criminally responsible for school absenteeism and the compulsory school attendance officer will enforce.
The school attendance officer
The core duties of the compulsory education officer are to monitor compliance with compulsory education and qualification requirements and to prevent school dropout. The basic principle is that all young people have a right to education.
If a student is absent from school unauthorized, the school will first talk to the student and/or parent(s). If the absence does not stop, the school reports this to the school attendance officer. The school official then conducts an investigation. Often the student/parents are then invited for an interview.
If a student has frequent or long absences, the compulsory education officer can also work with school, any social services involved, parent(s) and student to see what is needed so the student can return to school.
If there are signs of Health, referral to counseling may also be an option.
If the (unauthorized) absenteeism persists, it can be a serious threat to the child's development. If there is unauthorized absenteeism and it is not stopped, then the school attendance officer can enforce. This could include referring a student to HALT and drawing up an official report to be sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office. The prosecutor then determines the punishment.
The school attendance officer works according to the Methodical Approach to School Absence (The MAS). If you would like to know more about this. Then check out the MAS via the button below.
What does school do?
Schools are required to record students who are absent, so that school and the compulsory education officer have insight into which students are absent.
schools:
- arrange for the in enrollment and upon departure the deregistration of the student;
- report unauthorized absenteeism or questionable sick leave to the school attendance officer;
- report to the school attendance officer when young people leave school without starting qualifications
- have the duty of care for the student. Even if the child needs additional guidance and support.
What if my child is sick?
Of course, it may happen that your child cannot attend school because of illness (authorized absence). Problems can arise with frequent absenteeism or when doubt arises about the explanation of being sick. In case of frequent absenteeism or doubt, the school can call in the GGD youth doctor. When the GGD juvenile doctor cannot or cannot sufficiently link the absenteeism to the degree of absence, the GGD juvenile doctor reports this back to the school. The school then reports this absence as unauthorized to the school attendance officer, who conducts an investigation.
Can I take my child on vacation without school permission?
If, as a parent, you take your child on vacation outside the school vacations without the permission of the principal, this is considered unauthorized absenteeism (luxury absenteeism). Vacation during school hours is only possible if parents can prove that the child cannot go on vacation during any of the school vacations because of the specific nature of the profession of (one of) the parents. For example, because you:
- has seasonal work, such as in fruit growing or catering;
- face peak traffic during school vacations;
- As a self-employed person, you miss a large part of your income if you are away during the school vacations.
In this case, the principal of the school may give the child time off once per school year, if it is not more than ten school days and not in the first two weeks of the school year.
It is not the case that every business owner or self-employed person is "entitled" to extra leave for your child outside the school vacations.
More information can be found on the website of the Rijksoverheid and in the Beleidsregel uitleg "specifieke aard van het beroep" and "andere gewichtige omstandigheden" bedoeld in de Leerplichtwet 1969.
When can I request special leave?
In some situations, special leave (authorized absence) is possible. For example, leave to attend a wedding or funeral.
Would you like to request special leave of ten school days or less? Please contact the principal of your child's school. Special leave for more than ten school days can be requested from the school attendance officer at your child's school.
More information can be found in the Beleidsregel uitleg "specifieke aard van het beroep" en "andere gewichtige omstandigheden" bedoeld in de Leerplichtwet 1969.
Can my child receive an exemption from school enrollment?
There are special circumstances in which children do not have to attend school. As a parent, you must invoke exemption from enrollment for this. Exemption from school enrollment is possible in the following situations:
- your child is not fit to be admitted to a school on psychological/medical grounds. To this end, the school attendance officer will ask an independent doctor for advice;
- as a parent, you have strenuous reservations about the direction of education;
- your child has a school enrollment abroad.
If the exemption is given, it is usually valid for one school year. You submit an appeal for exemption to the Mayor and Aldermen (B&W) before July 1 each year. The school attendance officer will process this notification on behalf of B&W.
If there is no right to exemption and the young person does not attend school, the compulsory education officer can take criminal (enforcement) action.
More information can be found on the Ingrado website.
If you believe one of these exemption grounds applies to you, you can fill out the application form via the green button. Please read the home page carefully before logging in with DigiD.
Exemption from registration requirement
For questions about exemptions contact the CMD Access Team by phone at 040-289 38 99 or email leerplicht@geldrop-mierlo.nl.
What if my child is temporarily unable to attend school fully?
Sometimes, due to physical or psychological reasons, children/youth are temporarily unable to attend school, or unable to attend school fully. The Varia Act allows Health to be combined with education. We call this a customized program and school plays an important role in this. Although no leave or exemption from compulsory education is required, the compulsory education officer is often involved in these pathways.
Can I get in touch?
Regional cooperation on compulsory education
We cooperate for compulsory education with the other municipalities in the region. This means that the compulsory education officers of Geldrop-Mierlo are not always involved even though your child lives in Geldrop-Mierlo.
Primary School
If your child lives in Geldrop-Mierlo and attends an elementary school, you can contact the compulsory education officer of the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo for questions.
Secondary education or MBO
Does your child live in Geldrop-Mierlo, goes to secondary school or MBO. and is younger than 18? Then the following applies:
- If the school is in Geldrop-Mierlo, please contact the compulsory education officer of the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo
- Is the school located in one of the municipalities listed below? If so, contact the compulsory education officer of that municipality:
Asten-Someren, Bergeijk, Best, Bladel, Cranendonck, Deurne, Eersel, Eindhoven, Gemert-Bakel, Heeze-Leende, Helmond, Laarbeek, Nuenen, Oirschot, Reusel de Mierden, Son&Breugel, Valkenswaard, Veldhoven, Waalre
- If your child attends a school outside the region (so not in one of the above municipalities), please contact the compulsory education officer of Geldrop-Mierlo
Helmond - de Peel flow-through point
The Doorstroompunt helps young people aged 18 to 23 get a good foundation for the future if they leave school before they have obtained a havo or mbo-2 level diploma. For example by looking together for a nice education, a good job or a place to be busy and learn new things.
Doorstroompunt Helmond - De Peel helps young people in the municipalities of: Helmond, Asten, Deurne, Geldrop-Mierlo, Gemert-Bakel, Laarbeek and Someren.
Quitting school, then what?
Perhaps you would like to take another course, but are not sure which one. Or would you rather work and take an education or course at the same time? Or are you just not sure anymore. Would you like to work on your future (again)? Then the Doorstroompunt is for you! The coaches are ready for you to give you a helping hand to build a good foundation for your future.
This is how we help you get started
You can talk to us about what suits you and what you are good at. We advise you on your choice of study and career using a comprehensive test. Would you rather not go back to school? Then we will help you find a suitable workplace or other fun and meaningful way to fill your days with a nice and good feeling. Does this sound good? Then contact the flow-through point. It costs nothing. We will help you take steps for your future for free and with pleasure.
Sound good? Then get in touch using the contact form below. You can also call, to 14 0492 (option 2) or email jeugd@helmond.nl.
Contact details of compulsory education officer in Geldrop-Mierlo
Call Team Access of the CMD at phone number 040-2 893 899 or email leerplicht@geldrop-mierlo.nl
Be sure to include the student's name, date of birth and zip code in your question.
Where can I find useful information?
Appropriate education
- Helmond-Peelland primary education partnership: https://po.swv-peelland.nl/
- Helmond-Peelland secondary education partnership: https://www.swvhelmondpeellandvo.nl/
Elementary schools in Geldrop-Mierlo
Secondary Education in Geldrop-Mierlo
School boards of schools in Geldrop-Mierlo
- Eenbes: https://www.eenbes.nl/
- PlatOO: https://www.platoo.nl/
- Silfo: https://www.silfo.nl/