Compulsory education

The Compulsory Education Act ensures that every child attends school and is enrolled in a school until their 16th birthday.

When a child is 4 years old, he or she may attend school. Children ages 5 through 16 are subject to compulsory education. Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that children attend school. Schools are required to report truant students to the municipality after no more than 3 consecutive days of absence or when the student misses more than 3 days combined for 4 consecutive weeks of classes. All children remain subject to compulsory education until the end of the school year in which they turn 16. After that, they become subject to compulsory qualification. This means that young people without a starting qualification must attend school until they turn 18. A havo or vwo diploma or a mbo diploma from level 2 is a starting qualification.

Exemption from compulsory education

Your child may be granted an exemption from compulsory education so that he or she no longer has to attend school. This can only be done in the following cases:

For physical or mental incapacity determined before a physician or psychologist;
If your child is enrolled in a school abroad.

Substitute compulsory education

Your child may not be able to fulfill full compulsory education or qualification requirements. In that case, substitute compulsory education is probably an option. Substitute compulsory education is only for children 14 years and older. It is a separate learning pathway that suits your child's personal situation. There are substitute learning pathways for full compulsory education, and also for qualification obligation.

Special leave compulsory education

When your child attends school, he or she must attend classes at the designated times. In some cases, you may be granted special leave (up to 10 school days per school year):

In the case of a legal obligation that cannot happen outside of school hours;
When moving;
Upon the marriage of relatives by blood or by marriage (up to the fourth degree);
Upon the death of relatives by blood or by marriage (up to and including the fourth degree);
In case of serious illness of relatives by blood or marriage (up to the fourth degree);
In case of delivery of the mother, caretaker or guardian;
on wedding anniversaries (12½, 25, 40, 50 or 60 years) of relatives by blood or marriage (up to and including the fourth degree);
In case of emergencies, for example, fire;
for any other significant reason to which the school principal agrees.

Extra vacation leave

Are you unable to take your children on vacation within the school vacations because of your work? Then you can request additional vacation leave. This is separate from the special leave that applies to every child. You can request a maximum of ten additional vacation days per school year. This cannot be done in the first two teaching weeks of the new school year. You must submit your request in writing to the school principal at least eight weeks in advance.

ESL

An early school leaver is someone between the ages of 17 and 23 who has stopped attending school and does not have a starting qualification. A starting qualification is a havo, vwo or mbo2 diploma. A vmbo diploma is not a starting qualification. Early school leavers can get a personal counselor through the Regional Reporting and Coordination Function (RMC). This counselor helps with finding an education or (apprenticeship) job.