Large part school drop-outs return to education

15 percent obtains ‘starting qualification’ later on

In the school year of 2004/2005, 4,5 percent of adolescents under 23 dropped out of high school without a starting qualification. Of these drop-outs, about 30 percent followed a certain form of education after 5 years or obtained a starting qualification. At the beginning of the school year of 2009/2010, 15 percent of the drop-outs of 2004/2005 received proper education. 

Amount of women returning to education larger than that of men

Female drop-outs participated more often in education or obtained a starting qualification than men: 31 versus 27 percent. The part that obtained a starting qualification in the beginning of 2009/2010 was also larger amongst women than amongst men: 16 versus 14 percent.

More Surinamese than Dutch women obtain starting qualification

Of the Surinamese women that dropped out of school in 2004/2005, 18 percent obtained a starting qualification in the school year of 2009/2010, slightly more than Dutch women and considerably more (7 percent) than Surinamese men. Generally, the share of drop-outs that returns to education or obtain a starting qualification is the highest amongst Dutch people born and raised in the Netherlands.

Return to education when situation at home is stable

About 15 percent of the drop-outs of 2004/2005 experienced a change in their home situation - divorces, parents remarrying or having children. Amongst these adolescents, the share that obtains a starting qualification is about 4 percentage points lower than amongst drop-outs of whom did not experience a significant change in their home situation. This difference is about the same for women as it is for men.