In January, the Education Council issued a somewhat unconventional recommendation on student well-being. The council acknowledges that student well-being is under pressure, but argues that the solution is not simply to expand access to student psychologists and other forms of individual support. Education itself can also play a role.

Minister of Education Rianne Letschert fully agrees with the Education Council, she writes in a letter to the House of Representatives. She has no plans to allocate additional funding specifically for student well-being or to introduce new policies on the issue.

In addition, she argues that a “different perspective” on student well-being is needed, because the current individualized, care-focused approach is placing excessive demands on the education system.

Dare to say no

Instead, Letschert would prefer education to build on its own strengths. According to her, when students receive high-quality education, they develop self-confidence and become “more resilient and better equipped to find their place in the labor market and in society.”

For that reason, Letschert encourages educational institutions to “move away from an individualized, care-focused approach wherever possible.” If a student’s complex or intensive care needs place excessive demands on an institution, schools and universities should “also dare to say no and refer them to appropriate support.”

That does not mean education cannot accommodate students who are struggling, the minister says. “A little flexibility in scheduling, some leeway in when an exam is taken—adjustments like these can sometimes genuinely help prevent a pupil or student from dropping out.”

Parents

Letschert also calls on parents to take responsibility. They should help their children become resilient and learn to cope “with the pressure and stress that are part of life,” she says. “Discomfort and the search for identity are part of young people’s lives and can therefore never be eliminated entirely.”

Young people’s well-being has been under pressure, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. School closures during the lockdowns took a serious toll on young people’s mental well-being. Research published in November showed that the situation has improved somewhat over the past few years.

According to the Education Council, young people’s mental well-being can also benefit from classroom discussions about topics that directly affect them. In an interview, chair Louise Elffers advised teachers and lecturers to talk with students about issues such as discrimination or the housing crisis.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.