How we combat early school dropouts in the Netherlands 1 a presentation by Reimke Hitimana-Willemze, manager

Zuid-Holland Zuid: 17 municipalities 2 labor market regions 3 organisations for social security 4 groups of cooperating secondary schools 2 Secondary Vocational schools, many students living in this region, attending school in another RMC: Registration, Measures and Coordination of co-operation concerning early school dropouts Some key figures about this region

European ambitions were easy to meet Lisbon treaty 2000: Within 10 years a maximum of 10% of years old without a degree of a secondary school data 2001: Finland: +/- 9% Netherlands: 15.1% Dutch results: Early school dropouts 2002: dropouts 2012: dropouts 2013: dropouts (2.1%)

Dutch approach: bottom up In 2008 the Ministry of Education started a national program: Drive to Reduce Drop-out Rates Bottom up: 39 regions Treaties: municipalities and schools take measures together Regional budget to finance those measures

Not done yet… The battle against early dropouts goes on Results so far.. 41% reduction of the early school dropout a year

Early school dropout-numbers vary by school level and age

Differences between 2 types of secondary education Secondary schools: basic education by learning theoretically years: compulsory education Pupils are mothered. Social work, guidance & support chool Secondary vocational schools: learning practically students from years 18+: no compulsory education Students have to find their own way Less guidance & support

Work Wrong choice of study Scholars get ‘lost’ in student-environment Small group: multi-problem Reasons for dropping out of school

Covenant ; prolongation till 2016 Goal: max early school dropouts a year in 2016 (2,1%) Bonus per school for better achievements than last year Regional budget to finance 4 regional measures: Easy transfer secondary education – secondary vocational education Tutoring during school life Combatting non-attenders Guiding troubled teenagers/young adults An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Care, Education, Work Network of partners in Care, Education and Work. For troubled teenagers/young adults. Case-oriented, custom made plans. Positive score between 69% - 84%! Milestones: 18 juli 2013 start of the covenant! 13 februari 2014 first pupils were assisted

Thank you for your attention. Questions?