Dutch minister ups school-leaving age

Education Minister Maria van der Hoeven plans to raise the age for compulsory education from 17 to 18. The move is intended to reduce the number of young people who leave school without any qualifications. At present around 60,000 pupils drop out of school each year.

Ms Van der Hoeven also wants local authorities to take more action to encourage people between the ages of 18 and 23 to opt for work or education rather than giving them social security benefits. The minister’s new plans already have government approval and will cost around 100 million euros.

Source: Radio Netherlands, 25 April 2006