Thuiszitters
In the Netherlands, around 14,000 young people are staying at home while they are actually supposed to be attending school. A large proportion has been out of school for more than three months, and sometimes even for years.
Going to school is so normal that you don’t usually stop to consider that it can also completely break down. Who are these long-term school absentees? Why is school not working for them? Radio maker and philosopher Prosper de Roos explored the world of school non-attendance and witnessed the enormous effort it takes to help children who become stuck in the education system due to autism or other challenges. For thousands of children, so-called “appropriate education” turns out to be restrictive, while special education does not provide an alternative—resulting in major consequences for both children and their parents. What creative solutions exist to help children who do not seem to fit within the system?
Audiodocumentaire / NTR Radio Doc Podcast/ Radio 1, 2019
