The Court of Audit is cracking political integration policy
The current policy whereby newcomers have to arrange their integration themselves is not working well. The pass rate has fallen sharply: only one third of newcomers have passed the exam within three years since 2013. Moreover, the government has far too little insight into the situation.
This is the conclusion of the Court of Audit investigation report about the first results.
Until four years ago, municipalities coordinated the integration of newcomers. Since 2013, people integrating have to take care of this themselves and arrange financing. They can borrow a maximum of ten thousand euros from DUO and in principle have three years to pass their integration exam.
This shift was accompanied by further cutbacks. Political The Hague thought too easily about it. 'Individual responsibility as the basis of the integration policy is not well substantiated in advance and does not work sufficiently in practice. Most of the people integrating need support at the start of an integration process. Restrictions in the provision of information to people integrating reinforce this, 'says the Court of Audit
Quality
Almost all newcomers appear to choose the lowest required language level A2, previously there were more who followed a higher level. Asylum seekers do not have to repay the loan if they pass the exam in time.
The integration market is a maze with a maze of course providers, where there is little insight into the quality of the courses and the information provision leaves much to be desired.
'The limited transparency in the course market prevents people integrating from choosing a suitable route. The quality of an integration course is not tested, 'says the Court of Audit.
Heritage
The current integration policy is one heritage of the Rutte I cabinet (VVD, CDA with tolerance support from PVV), adopted by the Lower House at the end of April 2012, a few days after the cabinet fell. In addition to VVD, CDA and PVV, SGP and member Brinkman also voted in favor.
When the law came into effect, at the beginning of 2013, a new cabinet took office with PvdA minister Lodewijk Asscher of social affairs as the responsible minister. Last year he indicated that he would make a number of improvements. The four major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) have now announced that they want to regain a better grip on integration.
Costs
The Education Magazine reported about the harrowing terms of employment en -circumstances for teachers in NT-2 education. They often have to make do with flex contracts, low hourly rates and cheap teaching materials.
Civic integration has been overhauled regularly over the past ten years. In 2007, then Minister Rita Verdonk introduced market forces and the training market was flooded by price fighters and other private parties. The ROCs that before that time exclusively provided integration, saw many jobs disappear and a large part of their integration infrastructure crumbling.
