The end seems near for the Markeschool in Wachtum. Because the number of students at the public primary school is declining, closure is at risk. That would mean that the village will soon no longer have a school.
The closure standard can vary from 23 students to 200 students. That number depends on the size of the municipality. Schools that have been subject to the closure standard for three years will lose their income from the government. That almost always means that the school has to close.
This school year there are only 26 students at the school. This is expected to decrease to 19 students in 2026/2027. According to Arcade’s forecast, there is hardly any new growth.
This is a reason for the foundation to intend to close the school as of August 1. “The school has always been on the edge in terms of students,” explains Arcade spokesperson Gerjo Stegeman.
According to the foundation, several parents indicated that they would register their child at a school in another village for the coming school year. Moreover, there is sufficient educational provision in the vicinity of Wachtum.
There is disappointment at the school itself. “But there is also a lot of understanding for this realistic decision,” says Stegeman.
The school could have been closed earlier. “About thirty years ago, a call was made to move families to Wachtum. A family with nine children saved the school,” says Stegeman.
It is now still up to the municipality of Coevorden. The closure of the school will be discussed during the committee meeting on Tuesday, April 7.
Legally speaking, that is actually too late to close the school in the summer. This would mean that the school cannot close until August 1, 2027. For closure in August 2026, a decision must be made before February 1, 2026.
According to Arcade, the school board needed extra time, which meant that the legal deadline for the plan was exceeded. However, it is proposed to agree to closure as of August 1, 2026.
After the closure, the municipality of Coevorden can determine what will happen to the building.
