More primary schools in Utrecht are abolishing the traditional parental contribution used to pay for trips and extra activities and are setting up a city-wide solidarity fund instead.
The city’s three biggest school groups have opted to introduce the new system, saying that although some parents may contribute less, the measure will help bridge the gap between rich and poor families.
Catholic school group KSU made the move last May and now two other large school organisations, SPO Utrecht and PCOU Willibrord, are joining in. Together they account for 80% of the city’s primary schools and the fund organisers hope the rest will follow.
School parental contributions, which are voluntary, have become a key part of school funding and that means schools with more low-income households are disadvantaged if parents do not pay, those behind the new system say.
Parents also feel pressured into making payments – usually between €60 and €80 – that they cannot afford. Until 2022, pupils whose parents did not pay could be excluded from trips and extra lessons.
With the establishment of the solidarity fund, schools do not know who has contributed what and that means parents no longer have to be embarrassed about not contributing.
The KSU school group generated €85,000 for its fund when it launched – or an average of €12 per pupil, which is well below the voluntary contribution.
The aim is to generate some €60 to €75 per pupil, which will also come from corporate and private donations.
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