Schoolfort

Entry level secondary education (vmbo) in Holland has a big problem with truancy. The formal school system doesn’t work for everybody. Some young people just learn better ‘with their hands’. But if they stay away from school too often they run the risk of dropping out altogether. This risk is greatly diminished through a programme called ‘Schoolfort’.

During school hours these children, aged 14 to 17, perform light manual jobs and are closely monitored by a foreman. The aim is to give them a perspective on both their future and the necessity of finishing school. After a pilot period in 2006 the programme was offered to all schools of the greater Amsterdam area. It turned out to be highly successful. More than 80 percent of the potential drop outs who followed the programme finished school with a diploma.