Board of Islamic schools in Amsterdam gets last chance for improvement | Domestic

If the foundation has not been saved by June 1, the directors will still be suspended. The court in Amsterdam determined this on Thursday.

The foundation includes three Islamic primary schools in Amsterdam. This concerns Al Yaqoet in the North district, Al Maes in West and Al Jawhara in East. The three schools have a total of approximately 1,100 students and approximately 110 FTE employees.

The foundation has been in conflict with the Ministry of Education for some time due to unlawful expenditure and unlawful actions by board members.

The foundation already received a warning in November 2022 due to financial mismanagement. The Education Inspectorate found around three thousand euros in unlawful expenditure. Requirements and conditions were imposed on the board. For example, there had to be a new independent director, who must be approved by the education minister. That didn’t happen.

According to outgoing education minister Mariëlle Paul, the school board has not shown sufficient improvement this year. That is why the schools received only 40 percent of the usual government contribution in January and February. In March, April and May it is 20 percent. That costs the schools hundreds of thousands of euros per month. There is a good chance that it will lead to bankruptcy.

Another objection that the Ministry of Education has with the foundation is that it does not yet have a new board to put things in order. According to the foundation, there are now two candidates in the picture as daily directors. One of them could start work at the beginning of May, after approval from the minister.

Because of that promise, the Council of State has decided not to suspend the board for the time being. As soon as the umbrella organization has an approved board, the schools will still receive their money.

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