What will change in education in 2023

The New Year will bring important changes to education in the Netherlands.

What will change in primary and secondary education

The government continues to improve the primary and secondary school system. To improve education in this segment, the following changes will occur in 2023:

The system of transferring eighth-graders to senior classes is changing 

Instead of a final test of knowledge of eighth grade students, a transfer exam will be introduced into the senior classes. The main goal of this change is to equalize the chances of XNUMXth grade graduates to receive education in their chosen educational institutions. The chances of entering the chosen school will now depend only on the level of preparation of the student and the desire shown by him, which will equalize the opportunities for eighth grade graduates.

The exam will be held at the beginning of the 2023/2024 academic year. All eighth grade graduates will be entered into the common database at the same time a week before April 1. 

An experiment in the organization of educational care is underway

The experiment starts on January 1, 2023 and will last for 5 years. Schools will be testing different ideas that combine education and childcare. Educational institutions will temporarily be allowed to deviate from the requirements of the current legislation in the areas of funding, place and duration of training, content of training programs. The objective of the experiment is to develop a set of individual solutions for children with additional needs

We remind you that childcare in the Netherlands is paid, but parents can receive a subsidy for partial payment for such care. More about it here.

All Ukrainian students in the Netherlands must be registered with the leerlingenadministratie

From 2022, school boards can quickly and flexibly set up temporary educational institutions to educate children from Ukraine. The opening of such schools requires a minimum of formalities. From January 1, 2023, all such educational institutions must submit student data to the leerlingenadministratie - this is a file with student data about their education. Previously, this requirement did not apply to Ukrainian refugee children.

What will change in the field of secondary vocational and higher education

Students will be eligible for management grants

Students enrolled in the secondary vocational education program (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs - MBO) and university students from January 1 will acquire the right to receive a grant for the performance of managerial functions. To do this, they must take leadership positions in political or national student organizations.

The activity of the regional investment fund of secondary vocational education was extended for 2023

The fund was supposed to cease operations at the end of 2022. MBO schools, in cooperation with employers and regional authorities, can now apply for subsidies throughout 2023 under the same conditions as before. Details of these subsidies are on the government website.

Regional boundaries will change for a regional approach to early school leaving 

Some students leave educational institutions without completing secondary education. The rules under which young people can do this depend on the region where they live. In general, the rules are aimed at reducing the exodus of students from schools and protecting vulnerable young people. In connection with the change in a number of municipal boundaries, the boundaries of the regions that control early school leaving have also changed. More about it here. 

The salary structure of teachers of secondary vocational education will change

As of August 1, 2022, agricultural training centers have been converted into separate MBO institutions and separate VBO schools (this type of educational institution has a smaller number of students). From 2023, VBO schools will no longer receive additional funding for teacher salaries.  

A new registration system for institutions and programs of higher and vocational education is being introduced

The Registration of Institutions and Programs (Registratie instellingen en opleidingen - RIO) comes into force on January 1, 2023, which will replace the Key Register of Institutions (basisregistratie instellingen - BRIN) and the Central Registers of Higher and Vocational Education Programs (Centrale registers voor opleidingen in het hoger onderwijs en het beroepsonderwijs - CROHO and CREBO). In this regard, all references in the laws to CROHO and CREBO are replaced by references to RIO. As a result, the methods of paying for tuition will change. More about it here.

General changes in education

In order to improve the quality of education, the 1 Education Policy Rules will come into force on January 2022, as amended by financial sanctions on publicly funded educational institutions. Educational institutions that do not meet the requirements will be fined: 

• In institutions of primary and secondary education, the fine will be up to 15% of the amount of funding for the first 3 months. Primary and secondary schools will not receive this money even after the deficiencies are eliminated. 
• In educational institutions of secondary vocational and higher education that do not meet the requirements, funding will be suspended for the first 3 months: the frozen 10-25% of funds will be available after the deficiencies are eliminated. 
• Educational institutions that do not eliminate deficiencies within three months will be subject to tougher sanctions.

As a reminder, parents of children under the age of 18 may receive several types of child benefits. To start receiving this fairly decent money, benefits must be issued. Nalog.nl is ready to help you apply for child support: you can learn more about child support and how to apply for it on this page our website.