The Municipality of Voorschoten is fully engaged in providing education to Ukrainian children and children of asylum seekers who have been granted refugee status

On September 1, 2022, the municipality of Voorschoten, in collaboration with the school boards in Voorschoten, began providing education for Ukrainian children in an international language class. This language class is held at the Kruispuntkerk in Voorschoten. Since then, Ukrainian children of elementary school age have been receiving instruction in their own language from two Ukrainian teachers. Dutch language classes have also begun, taught by two NT2 teachers.

Due to the problems at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) and the Asylum Seekers’ Center (AZC) in Ter Apel, the current housing shortage, and the war in Ukraine, many more refugees and status holders than usual are being housed within the municipality of Voorschoten and other municipalities. As a result, language classes in Leiden and the surrounding area are already full. Therefore, the school boards in Voorschoten have decided that all Ukrainian children will attend elementary school in Voorschoten itself as soon as possible. The children of recognized asylum seekers will be enrolled in one of the eight schools in Voorschoten as soon as possible. Preschoolers who are already here will be accommodated at the De Vink and Het Kompas elementary schools.

Different Types of Education

The organized classes provide elementary education for Ukrainian students and children of asylum seekers aged 6 to 12. However, the education of children of newcomers aged 12 to 18 is experiencing delays in the region. For this reason, the municipality of Voorschoten has arranged for these Ukrainian children to be temporarily accommodated at the Den Deijl School in Wassenaar.