See text below.
EXCERPTS
The cabinet is expected to agree later this week to slash subsidies for pre-school crèches and after-school clubs because of soaring costs, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday.
In total childcare is set to cost 2bn this year, overspending the budget by 500m. Finance minister Wouter Bos has refused to set aside extra cash, forcing junior education minister Sharon Dijksma to make savings.
Among the options being considered are cuts to childcare subsidies for high-income families and changes in the payments to registered childminders, the Volkskrant says.
The cost of childcare organised through special child-minders' bureaus rose by 113% (150m) last year, prompting Dijksma to launch an investigation into possible abuse of the system.
One in four children under 13 attended pre and after school care last year, compared with one in five in 2006, according to figures released on Wednesday by the national statistics office CBS.
Since last July, all primary schools are required by law to provide childcare facilities between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
…
The number of parents who received a subsidised crèche place rose sharply to 388,000 last year, up from 117,000 in 2006, partly as a result of changes in the law, says the statistics office.
According to the CBS, parents paid on average 20% of crèche costs themselves.
…
- reprinted from the Dutch News