High costs for pupils at international schools

The costs per pupil are higher at international schools than at regular schools in the Netherlands. Higher teacher salaries, smaller classes and extra pupil supervision are the reasons for this.

International schools spend 113 million euro

There were 40 international schools for primary and secondary education in the Netherlands in 2004. Twenty are private schools and 20 are financed by the government. The operation of the international schools cost 113 million euro in 2004; the 20 private schools spent 71 million euro, the 20 government-funded schools spent 42 million euro.

More 3 thousand euro extra costs

Pupils at international primary schools cost 8.9 thousand euro on average in 2004. The cost of pupils in regular primary schools was 5.4 thousand euro. Pupils in international secondary education cost 9.8 thousand euro, compared with 6,6 thousand euro for regular secondary education.
Private international schools are almost completely financed by fees paid by parents, which amount to 9.4 thousand euro per year on average. International schools funded by the government receive revenues from government subsidies and (lower) fees; the fees to be paid by parents amount to 4 thousand euro on average.

Spending by international schools in the Netherlands, 2004

12 thousand pupils

More than 6.1 thousand pupils were enrolled in international primary education, 5.9 thousand pupils in international secondary education. Two out of three of these pupils are registered at private international schools.
The private international schools have an average 380 pupils, state-funded schools an average 220 pupils. Most international schools are located in The Hague , the city where most embassies and international companies are situated.

Pupils from 82 countries

Government funded international secondary schools are attended by pupils from 82 different countries. Most pupils (71 percent) come from Europe; of these 24 percent have the Dutch nationality, 18 percent come from the United Kingdom and Ireland, and 29 percent come from other European countries.

Pupils in state funded international secondary schools by country of origin, 2004

Pupils entitled to transfer

Many pupils at international schools are children of parents who have come to the Netherlands to live and work. The curriculum is designed in such a way that these children can easily pick up their studies when they return to their native country or move to another country. The diplomas are recognised in the Netherlands, and entitle pupils to move up to higher education.
Children of Dutch parents also attend international schools. These are often children who have previously attended education outside the Netherlands or intend to do so in the future. The curriculum is designed to facilitate the transfer to education in English, or to the Dutch school system.
 
Frans Pang