Extra money for small schools
Small schools receive extra money to continue to provide good education. Education minister Arie Slob (ChristenUnie) increases the small school allowance. The smallest schools, with fifty pupils or less, receive the most extra money per year with 20 thousand euros.
Picture: National government
Slob announced the budget increase in a today brief to the House of Representatives. The plan was also mentioned in the coalition agreement and has long been a spearhead of Slob's party, the ChristenUnie. The party saved in 2014 together with the PvdA and the SGP, the small school allowance, then State Secretary Sander Dekker (VVD), wanted to abolish it.
'For the cabinet it is important that children can go to school close to their home and that parents can continue to choose a school that suits their religious beliefs,' writes Slob. 'The small school allowance is an important means of keeping primary education accessible.'
Education minister Arie Slob: 'For the cabinet it is important that children can go to school close to their home and that parents can continue to choose a school that suits their religious beliefs.'
In the Netherlands there are two thousand small schools. These are schools with fewer than 145 pupils. These schools are already receiving a supplement, but this will increase. The smaller the school, the higher the extra amount they will receive. For example, a school of 75 pupils now receives 70 euros in supplement. These schools will receive 2019 thousand euros from 2020-85. Schools with 25 pupils will receive 20 thousand euros extra, those with 100 pupils 10 thousand euros and a school with 125 pupils will receive 5000 euros extra.
The schools can decide for themselves how they want to spend the money.
