The Dutch government has secured funding for the educational path within the integration system until 2029. This decision provides long-term assurance for this specific learning route, fulfilling the wishes of both implementation parties and newcomers. Minister Karien van Gennip of Social Affairs and Employment has sent a letter to the Dutch Parliament regarding this matter.
Minister Van Gennip emphasized: “For a portion of (young) newcomers, a Dutch diploma from a vocational or scientific education offers the best chances of employment. I am pleased with the government’s commitment to securing the educational path financially for the long term. This increases the opportunities for young newcomers. This is not only beneficial for the newcomers themselves but also for society and the job market as a whole.”
The educational path primarily focuses on (young) newcomers in the Netherlands who are required to undergo integration and do not possess sufficient prior education to enroll in regular education. Newcomers are offered Dutch language lessons and subjects such as mathematics or physics in preparation for vocational, higher education, or academic programs. Municipalities, which have played a significant role in the integration system since 2022, purchase the educational trajectories for those with integration obligations.
The funding for the educational path is currently secured until 2025. Additional resources were allocated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment last year because the path turned out to be more costly than initially anticipated. In close collaboration with numerous parties, including the Ministry of Education, the Association of Dutch Municipalities, and the Association of Dutch Municipalities, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment sought ways to safeguard the educational path for a longer period. An amount of €88.9 million will now be made available for the years 2026 through 2029, with the Ministry of Education also contributing. In the coming years, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment will conduct evaluations of the functioning of the integration system, including the educational path. Based on these evaluations, decisions will be made regarding how this learning route will be shaped from 2030 onward.