Nearly one in eight 16 to 24-year-olds in Britain are not in education, employment or training – a crisis that, according to a landmark report last month, could see the figure rise to one in six within five years unless urgent action is taken.
The report, authored by former health secretary Alan Milburn, pointed to a stark contrast across the North Sea. In the Netherlands, the Neet rate among 18 to 24-year-olds stands at just 4.9%; the equivalent figure in the UK is 15.1%. Milburn identified the Dutch approach as one the UK could learn from.
“UK has nearly one in eight young people NEET; Netherlands' low 4.9% rate offers a model based on 'no dead ends'”
At the heart of the Dutch system is a simple philosophy: "No dead ends". Every stage of a young person's journey is designed to lead somewhere. Under Dutch law, children must attend school from five to 16, then remain in education or training until they either secure a qualification or turn 18. A key tool is the kwalificatieplicht – the qualification requirement – which has helped cut dropout rates.
But the system is not without controversy. From around age 12, Dutch pupils are streamed into one of three secondary tracks based on teacher recommendations and primary-school test results. Critics warn that early streaming can disadvantage some children and damage self-esteem.
Amelie, now 17, was told at age 10 to choose the vocational VMBO track – a path often seen as less academic. "It took a toll on my confidence," she says. Yet when she explored secondary schools at 12, she felt more optimistic. "We had a textiles class, there was a blacksmithing area."
Amelie went on to study fashion, but struggled to secure an internship and left her course aged 17. She spent six months working and travelling, feeling her academic path had gone off track. At that point, she says, if leaving education had been an option – as it is in the UK – she might have taken it. "If I had the freedom to drop out of school, I don't know what would have happened." But without a qualification, that wasn't an option for her.
Across the UK, young people can leave school at 16, but rules vary. In England, they must stay in education or training until 18 – through full-time study, an apprenticeship or part-time learning alongside work. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there is no equivalent legal requirement, though schools and public agencies still encourage young people to stay on.
The Dutch system, with its emphasis on hands-on experience through work-study pathways and employer partnerships, offers a model of how to keep young people engaged. But the streaming controversy and the pressure it places on teenagers like Amelie raise questions about whether the UK could – or should – adopt similar measures to tackle its growing Neet crisis.