At most primary schools in our province it is possible to register children under three years. This is according to research by Omroep Brabant. This is not permitted by law, because this does not give everyone a fair chance to go to the school of his or her choice. The Education Inspectorate is worried and started an investigation.
The rules are simple: children can only be registered at a primary school if they are over three years old. This is to prevent huge waiting lists from being created and children who are registered later fall outside the boat. The inspection wants to prevent ‘inequality of opportunity’. “Not every parent knows how to find their way to a school just as easily. It should not be the case that certain schools are not accessible for that group of parents,” the inspection reports.
Invited for tour
The vast majority of the Brabant primary schools appear to have no message to this. Omroep Brabant has had contact with 142 schools spread throughout the province. With three -quarters of them, 107 schools, it is no problem to register a two -year -old child. We are even invited for a tour or receive the registration form to fill in.
This is not just about schools where often places for new students are free. Even at schools that are almost full, it is possible to register a child too early.
Seven schools already say they already have a waiting list, so they are offered speed when registering. There is still room at 27 other schools, but these schools are popular. They say they have not yet had a waiting list ‘at the moment’, or emphasize that it is important to be there quickly. 30 of the 142 schools report strictly to adhere to the rules: registration is not yet possible.
How did Omroep Brabant work?
To be able to paint a good picture of the situation and to get honest answers, a reporter from Omroep Brabant presented himself as an interested parent.
We approached hundreds of schools asking if our two -year -old son could already be registered. 142 schools responded to our e-mail. These schools are spread throughout the province.
‘No real registration’
If we ask the schools for a response, we hear several times that it is not a real registration, but a ‘pre -registered’ or ‘registering on the interesting list’. What the difference is exactly remains unclear: because what is the use of such a list if it is not a real registration? One school wants to explain that: parents on the ‘interest list’ are the first to be approached to register their child when possible. “So it is advisable to be on that list,” says an employee.
The Education Inspectorate has announced that it does not make a distinction between a registration or a variant, such as an ‘interest list’ or a ‘pre -registration’. “A preliminary notification has no legal basis and, like a too early registration, is not permitted. A pre -reporting can also not be automatically converted into a registration,” explains a spokesperson for the inspection.
Equality
The inspection can appeal to schools. If nothing changes, the inspection can also come up with financial measures. This only happens if there are complaints about a school. The spokesperson cannot say how often this happens, because they have ‘no complete picture’ of this.
To register children too early, is at least something that the inspection is ‘more and more and more often’ about. “That gives us a inspection. An honest and transparent hiring policy is important for the equality of Dutch students.” The inspection has therefore started an investigation. That must be ready at the end of this year.
‘No signals’
In that study, municipalities are also asked about what they do about this, because they also have a responsibility. Whether they have a good idea of the situation is the question: the eight large municipalities that Omroep Brabant approached all reported that they have ‘no signals’ of abuses in the hiring policy of schools. This while also the rules are being violated in some of these municipalities.
Do you want to respond to this story or do you also have experience with this problem? Mail the research editorial team.