Compulsory education

Permitted absences

In some situations, going to school is temporarily not an option. For example, when a student is sick. In cases of prolonged or frequent absenteeism, the school may seek the help of the school doctor. When a school doctor has doubts about absenteeism, the school can involve the compulsory attendance officer.

Unauthorized absence

When a student is enrolled in a school but does not attend it regularly, we speak of unauthorized absenteeism. Truancy and tardiness are also included here.

The school attendance officer works with schools to prevent absenteeism as much as possible. Schools are required to report unauthorized absenteeism to the compulsory attendance officer. The compulsory attendance officer investigates what caused the absenteeism and what is needed to resume school. Sometimes a conversation at school or with the school attendance officer is sufficient. In other cases, more is going on. Then the compulsory attendance officer may call on the social district teams to support the child or young person and/or his parent(s)/caregiver(s). In exceptional cases, young people may be referred to Halt or an official report may be made against the young person and/or the parent(s)/caregiver(s).

Luxury absenteeism

We speak of luxury absenteeism when a student goes on vacation outside the school vacations without the permission of the school principal. The school must also always report this absence to the school attendance officer. In the case of luxury absenteeism, an official report may be drawn up.

In a number of cases, it is possible to claim exemption from regular school attendance and exemption from compulsory enrollment in a school.

• Exemption from regular school attendance:
  When a child turns 5, he or she must attend school. Sometimes a full school week is still too much for a child. Based on article 11a, the child may then stay home 5 hours a week. This is allowed until the child is 6 years old. No permission is needed. However, it must be reported to the director of the school.
  Does a child need even more rest? Then there is the possibility to request 5 extra hours off. This is allowed until the child is 6 years old. Permission for this can be requested from the director of the school. In total it may not exceed 10 hours per week.
• Exemption from compulsory enrollment in a school:
  • Article 5 under a: The child or young person is unable to attend education for physical or psychological reasons.
  • Article 5(b); Parent(s)/guardian(s) have reservations about the direction of education at all schools located within reasonable distance of the home.
  • Article 5(c): The child or young person is enrolled at a school abroad and attends it regularly.
  • Article 5a: Parent(s)/caregiver(s) and the child or adolescent have a migratory relationship.

To qualify for one of these exemptions, parent(s)/caregiver(s) must submit an appeal for exemption. The form for this can be requested from the administration of LerenWerkt at info@lerenwerkt.nu. Please include which article is being appealed under.

• Exemption due to pursuing other education for 16- and 17-year-olds
  • Article 15: The young person is required to qualify and is otherwise pursuing education.

To qualify for this exemption, parent(s)/caregiver(s) must submit a request. The application form for this can be requested from the administration of LerenWerkt at info@lerenwerkt.nu. Please mention that it is a request under Article 15.

The compulsory education officer assesses whether the appeal/application meets the requirements of the Compulsory Education Act 1969 and informs parent(s)/guardian(s) in writing of the decision.

Special circumstances may arise that prevent a child from attending school. Consider a move, wedding, anniversary or funeral.

Application for leave for a special circumstance

Leave must always be requested in writing and in good time (where possible at least 8 weeks in advance). A request form can be used for this purpose which can be obtained through the child or young person's school.

• For leave up to 10 school days, the principal of the school decides. Accordingly, parents/caregivers may send the request form to the principal, completed and signed. The principal, in compliance with laws and regulations, will communicate the decision to parents/caregivers in writing.
• For leave of absence of more than 10 school days, the compulsory education officer decides. Parents/caregivers may then send the school's application form to LerenWerkt at info@lerenwerkt.nu. In compliance with laws and regulations, the compulsory education officer will notify parents/caregivers of the decision in writing.

 Family vacationing outside school vacations due to occupation

Only when the family cannot go on family vacation in any school vacations due to the specific nature of the occupation of parents/guardians, leave may be granted.

The term "specific nature" of the profession should include:

• Seasonal work, such as in fruit growing or catering;
• an occupation that involves peak traffic during school vacations;
• a self-employed person who misses a large portion of income if he/she goes away during the school vacations.

It must be shown that the family cannot take a vacation in any school vacations:

• Business owners must be able to demonstrate that a large portion of income is missed if the family goes on vacation during school vacations. This is also called an "insurmountable business risk.
• Employees, if doing seasonal work, must provide a statement from the employer.

Finally, the following conditions apply:

• The vacation may not take place during the first two weeks of classes of the new school year.
• Parents/guardians have not previously been granted leave for a (family) vacation this school year.

A request for leave due to the specific nature of the occupation must be made in writing and in a timely manner (where possible at least 8 weeks in advance) to the school principal. The school principal always makes the decision on this request. The school attendance officer is not involved.

The leave request may consist of up to 10 school days per school year. Longer than 10 school days on vacation leave outside school vacations is not possible from the Compulsory Education Act.

LerenWerkt is committed to helping absentee students, students at risk of dropping out of school and students who have dropped out of school. Compulsory education officers monitor compliance with the Compulsory Education Act. The consulents Doorstroompunt guide the dropouts. In the Achterhoek region we cooperate and the administration is carried out centrally by LerenWerkt. For more information, visit www.lerenwerkt.nu.