Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In the Netherlands, the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap) is responsible for financing education and overseeing the allocation of budgets across all levels, from pre-primary to higher education. The ministry regulates policies for both public and private institutions and distributes funding directly to schools. The Inspectorate of Education monitors schools’ financial management to ensure compliance and accountability.
According to the OECD, the flow of public funding to Dutch primary and lower secondary schools reflects this centralised model, with resources directed largely from the national government straight to schools, ensuring stable and predictable funding.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Gemeentelijk Onderwijsachterstandenindicator (Municipal Educational Disadvantage Policy)
Municipalities receive additional funding to address educational disadvantage through the Gemeentelijk Onderwijsachterstandenbeleid. Allocations are based on disadvantage scores calculated by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), which assess the risk of educational disadvantage among toddlers and primary school pupils using parental background characteristics. Municipalities with higher numbers of at-risk children receive proportionally greater funding. Funds are used to support early childhood education programmes, primarily to develop Dutch language skills and assist children who cannot fully participate due to financial barriers. Municipalities determine specific target groups and activities. Prior to the 2019 Onderwijsachterstandenindicator (OAI), additional funding was allocated through a simpler weighting scheme, which focused mainly on parental education. The current OAI system is broader, considering multiple child and household characteristics to better target resources and reduce educational inequality.
2. Education resources to schools
School financing in the country is highly centralised, with 92 percent of funding in 2023 provided by the central government and 8 percent by municipalities. Schools receive an annual lump-sum grant to cover personnel and material costs and have discretion over how it is spent. For primary schools, allocations are calculated on a per-pupil basis based on enrolment as of 1 February of the previous year and a fixed amount per school. Secondary schools also receive central government funding on a per-pupil basis which is based on enrolment as of 1 October of the previous year and a fixed amount per location. In addition to these core allocations there are subsidies for specific goals, like the improvement of the basic skills that pupils need. Schools may also generate supplementary income from a variety of sources, including parental contributions, municipal authorities for special projects, sponsorship, civil society donations, and contract activities.
Onderwijsachterstandenindicator (Educational Disadvantage Policy)
Since 2019, the Dutch central government has used the Onderwijsachterstandenindicator (OAI) to allocate additional funds to primary schools and municipalities serving children at risk of educational disadvantage. Disadvantage scores, calculated by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), consider five factors: parental education, the mother’s country of origin, her length of stay in the Netherlands, the average education level of mothers at the school, and parental involvement in debt restructuring. Funding increases with the number and severity of at-risk students. Since 2024, secondary schools with a student population at high risk of educational disadvantage also receive additional funding on the basis of a similar indicator calculated by CBS. Several subsidies also make use of the indicator to determine which schools receive priority for certain subsidies. One such example is the programme School en Omgeving(School and Environment), which provides additional extracurricular activities, such as sports, culture, technology, and homework support, to students with a high risk of educational disadvantage. Activities are tailored to local needs, and schools collaborate with municipalities and community organisations to implement the programme, enhancing educational equity.
3. Education resources to students and families
Pupil-Bound Financing for Special Education Services (Backpack Policy)
Introduced in 2003, the Backpack Policy linked funding for special education services directly to the individual student, rather than the institution. Eligible students and their families could select either mainstream or special schools and participate in decisions on how to use the allocated funds to meet the student’s specific needs.
In 2014, the policy was replaced by the Inclusive Education Act, which shifted responsibility to schools to provide for students’ needs. No further national-level information on the policy has been published; current programmes supporting students with special needs are administered primarily at municipal and school levels.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Kindgebonden Budget (Supplementary Child Budget)
The Kindgebonden Budget is a programme of the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment that provides regular financial support to parents or guardians of children up to 18 years old. The payment can help cover essential expenses such as clothing, food, and education. Eligibility is generally based on household income and requires parents to be registered and residing in the Netherlands. The benefit is usually provided automatically by the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB), though parents can apply if they believe they qualify and do not receive it. Payments are made quarterly, with amounts varying according to the child’s age. The government plans to increase the allowance in 2025 to better support vulnerable children.
5. School meal programmes
Programma Schoolmaaltijden (School Meals Programme)
The Programma Schoolmaaltijden, launched in 2023, is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), the Youth Education Fund, and the Dutch Red Cross. OCW provides funding, while the Youth Education Fund and the Red Cross are responsible for implementation. The programme targets primary and secondary schools where at least 30 percent of students come from low-income households, as well as all special education schools. Participating schools may choose to organise meals on site, including breakfast, lunch, or snacks, using a weekly budget provided by the Youth Education Fund, or to provide parents with grocery cards facilitated by the Red Cross to purchase food for children to take to school. The programme aims to improve nutrition, support low-income families, and enhance access to school meals.
