Terug Naar School-what does that mean here? It means that on September 1 children head to their assigned schools until June 30th. Every Wednesday afternoon they are free and they get a week of vacation in November, 2 in December, 1 in February and 2 in April.
Something that will probably seem absurb to North Americans is that children can begin school when they are 2.5 years. Personally I think that I would like to keep my child at home, but the majority of parents send their children at this age. I think it is much better for them than paying for daycare! Children are not required to go to school until they are 5. At 5 they are required a certain number of days if they want to begin their first year. From 6 years it is required that children go to school. You can NOT 'just miss a day.' It is required to have a doctor's note for a missed day.
Homeschooling is basically non-existant in this country. I have heard that there are a very few people who manage it, but I have never heard of anyone doing it. I find that a shame, because it was my life's dream to homeschool my kids. But that is a bridge to cross later.
There are no public school buses here. A few schools have buses, but normally you pay extra for the service. Parents drive the chilren to/from school and sometimes take them home for lunch. When children go to the 'bigger' school (ages 12-18), they often go alone with public transportation or their bikes.
The country is in the middle of reforming the school system, which I think is a good idea, because right now children are required at the tender age of 11 to decide what they want to do with their life and I am sure that many are not capable of this decision at that age.
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