Public Prosecution Service wants to force dismissal of the Islamic School Amsterdam board

NOS News•today, 12:16

The Public Prosecution Service wants to dismiss the board of the Islamic School Amsterdam Foundation (ISA) through a judicial procedure. The Public Prosecution Service has submitted a petition to the court for this. The immediate dismissal and suspension of the board is requested.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, the continuity of education is currently not guaranteed, partly due to the long-standing conflict with the Ministry of Education. More than two weeks ago, he further turned off the ISA’s money tap, after it became known a few years ago that the board “fails to function again and again”, according to outgoing education minister Paul.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, the discontinuation of financing threatens the foundation’s bankruptcy in the short term. “The Public Prosecution Service believes that the board is thus acting in conflict with the interests of the foundation, but especially with those of the students and teachers of the schools involved, that they can no longer remain as directors.”

The Public Prosecution Service wants a new temporary board to be established so that the financing of the schools can be restarted. “This can guarantee the continuity of education.”

The ISA consists of three primary schools in Amsterdam: in the Wildrijkstraat in North, at the Jan van Riebeekstraat in West and at the Sumatraplantsoen in East. The board has been under fire since 2022, when an inspection report revealed that the school umbrella organization is intertwined with foundations that arrange the transport of students.

In addition, nothing has been done for years with previous inspection recommendations, former education minister Wiersma reported. Since then, the ministry has been pushing for the departure of the board, but so far without results.

It is not yet clear when the so-called petition procedure at the Amsterdam District Court will start. In any case, the board will still have the opportunity to respond.