News item | 11-03-2024 | 13:45
Minister Mariëlle Paul (Primary and Secondary Education) continues to cut the Islamic School Amsterdam Foundation from the monthly budget it receives from the central government. The school board received a designation more than a year ago, partly due to financial mismanagement, but has not shown sufficient improvement since then. The board will receive 80% less funding in the coming months. If the situation does not improve, funding will be stopped completely in June this year.
Minister Paul, “The board has proven time and time again that it does not function properly. The measure is now full. Students, their parents and educational staff are victims of this. They deserve a board that works hard every day to ensure good education. I have no choice but to take this measure and hope that this step will still encourage the board to meet the requirements. In this way, the board can prevent the foundation’s three schools from ultimately having to close.”
Clue
The board of the Islamic School Amsterdam Foundation (ISA) received the designation in November 2022 due to financial mismanagement, unlawful enrichment and unlawful actions. The administrative organization and internal control were not in order, meaning that the board did not have a good overview of expenditure. There was also unlawful enrichment of ISA board members and organizations associated with ISA.
Conditions
To comply with the designation, the board had to meet nine conditions. For example, a new independent director had to take office. The minister had to agree to his taking office. That didn’t happen. A director is of great importance for well-functioning schools.
To entail
In January and February of this year, money was therefore withheld for the first time, 60% of the government money that the board receives monthly. The board knew that this percentage could increase further. Because a legal process was underway at the time, this can only now be made public.
If the board still puts its affairs in order and complies with all instructions in the instructions, the measure will lapse and no more money will be withheld.