Lots of fraud with language schools for integration
More and more language schools that offer lessons for people integrating are committing fraud, the Social Affairs and Employment Inspectorate (SZW) reports. In a letter to the House of Representatives, Minister Koolmees states that language schools can easily abuse integrators who do not yet speak the language and who do not know their way around.
Research has already shown that the current system does not work and encourages fraud. For example, people integrating now have to choose a suitable course themselves, but it is difficult for them to distinguish between the good and bad courses on offer.
Minister Koolmees wants stricter procedures for language schools and immigrants who have to take an integration exam. For example, the loan system will be abolished and municipalities will be given a greater 'directing role'.
Civic integration exam
In the Netherlands it is compulsory for immigrants to take the civic integration examination within three years of arriving in the Netherlands. As soon as the civic integration exam has been passed, the civic integration diploma of the Civic Integration Act is met. With this diploma, you can apply for a residence permit at the IND. The Education Executive Agency (DUO) is the government agency that conducts the civic integration exam. For any lessons to be followed, the integrators receive a loan from DUO of up to €10.000, on the condition that the language school has a Blik op Werk (BOW) quality mark. Integrators submit the invoices they receive from their language schools to DUO, which then pays the schools.
Source: NOS and Inspectorate SZW
“under the condition that the language school has a quality mark from Blik op Werk (BOW)”
Have some inspectors been sleeping?
Just keep these kinds of courses in government hands, e.g. at certain high schools.
It has been known to me for years. Out of necessity I first had to eat up my own money to eventually end up on welfare. As a 58 year old I was employed within 3 months. Eventually I was offered a contract to coach and assess status holders. It is unimaginable that several pass their naturalization. In addition, they are presented with even more benefits. Incredible! While I, as a taxpayer, want my girlfriend to come over for a 3-month vacation, this is rejected. IND = Institute of Dutch Fools. I am furious with the Dutch government
Certified schools request a DigiD authorization from the students and then submit the invoices for the lessons to DUO themselves; payment directly to the schools. This is a construction that calls for fraud.
We noticed this ourselves and reported it to DUO (study grants had been applied for without our involvement), but nobody was really interested there. Their response was that if we were harmed, we should file a report. The problem is that it is not we who are disadvantaged, but the state (DUO) itself.
I thought there was no way to stop such stupidity, but apparently the ministry has now also realized that they are being scammed by those 'Blik op Werk' schools.
The attitude of DUO after your report fits in with the UWV, which continues to provide holidaying Poles with their benefits, and health insurers, which do not investigate reports from their insured about fraudulent care providers. Unfortunately, students of a fraudulent 'language school', who abuse a Digid authorization, remain responsible for the loans themselves. In other words, the loan must be repaid with interest in due course. In practice, however, the vast majority of current integrators do not get out of social assistance, even after obtaining the integration diploma. Nothing can be picked from a bald chicken, so there will be no question of repayment for this group in the long term. This does not apply to Dutch people who bring their loved ones from Thailand to the Netherlands, for example. That Dutch person must in any case meet certain income requirements and has a guarantee obligation. Now there is nothing against society not paying for the costs of having a partner come over to the Netherlands, but there is (great) inequality. The integration obligation is arbitrary and incredibly expensive because too many parties are involved, who all earn from it.
It concerns no less than dozens of fraudulent schools, whether or not in collaboration with people integrating. Civic integration is a 'big business model' with a lot of money to be made. Thailand Blog often discusses corruption in Thailand, but also in the Netherlands, as the radio program Argos has already investigated, corruption is widespread, although it is often less noticeable. From 2019, municipalities will be given a greater role, but the absurdly high amounts associated with integration will not, in my view, decrease. Dutch people who want their Thai partner to immigrate are also saddled with these high costs when their partner follows the integration course through such a language school. Over the years, the civic integration exam has been expanded and therefore more difficult, but there is no civic integration obligation for Turks, Poles, Bulgarians, Romanians, etc., for example.
right leo,
My wife has been working since she came to the Netherlands, speaks Dutch and English reasonably well, understands almost everything, works with colleagues from Portugal, Italy, and the eastern bloc who do not speak English and we just have to put up with it, what a k… government we have yet we who hide behind endures.
k…we have a government that hides behind treaties.
What should one then? Treaties aside and out of the EU, because free movement of goods, people and capital in the EU, so ALSO for Italians (since 1958, ask in Wallonia, Adamo, Di Ruppo for example? ? The British are gradually becoming aware of which catastrophic blunder committed.
Thai situations in the Netherlands…. and then there are plenty who grumble about how corrupt it is in Thailand…
The municipality and the company, where I (still) work, offered a work experience place for people entitled to social assistance. Within our municipality there are 1200 status holders who receive assistance, 80% of whom are younger than 40 years. Because most simply refuse and enjoy their benefits, this project will be stopped as of January 1st. Sanctions would be taken against the Dutchman who would refuse this, like me 2 years ago 58 years old and then only 3 months on welfare. FOREIGN.!
Such a work experience place has been good for the few participating in this project. As a result, they gained insight into Dutch corporate culture and their Dutch conversation progressed by leaps and bounds. I myself have taught English in Thailand for several years, so I know where things go wrong. I even offered the municipality to teach Dutch to the status holders here because really it's terrible! Also from those who have passed their integration. Unfortunately nothing has been heard from the municipality and I no longer offer it.
Netherlands keep it up